Has anyone heard of tylenol with codeine having any negative effects on unborn babies?

Question

I am 28 wks pregnant and I have had a headache for a week straight. My doctor prescribed tylenol with codeine for the pain and I wanted to know if anyone has heard of negative effects on unborn baby. I only ask because my doctor prescribed a medication a few weeks ago that she said was perfectly safe and when I got home the prescription said that it had been known to cause harm to unborn babies.... if anyone has any information please help!!

Answer 1

Its not recommended to take in the first trimester. It does not cause birth defects, the danger is because its a narcotic and if abused the baby can become addicted also its a respiratory depressant and taking to much can stop the babies breathing. However it is safe when taken on occasion or for a short period under a doctors supervision. My daughter hurt her back during her pregnancy and had to take Vicodin for pain as needed.

Answer 2

The risk of medications in pregnancy is not generally known so warnings are unreliable. The FDA lists codeine as pregnancy category C meaning no known harm and presumed safe but a risk may not be excluded due to the lack of definitive data. Unfortunately for pregnancy ratings pregnant women and those of child bearing age are excluded from drug trials so the only drugs known safe are much older drugs before ethical concerns became the rule. I do not know what was prescribed previously but codeine should be presumed safe as it is an 'old' drug and if there were harm it would have been expected to have been reported long ago. Congradulations of the pregnancy.

Answer 3

You can safely take Tylenol, Extra strength Tylenol, during the pregnancy for headaches, or abdomenal pain. you should not take any Motrin, Advil, Ponstel, Ibuprofen, or Aspirin.

Tylenol with codeinecomes under Pregnancy Category C and should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Your GYNE is the only person who determine this risk,benefit ratio.
the following is FDA ratings for your help now and in future for any medication during pregnancy.

FDA Use-in-Pregnancy Ratings


Category Description
A
Controlled studies show no risk-Adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in any trimester of pregnancy.

B
No evidence of risk in humans-Adequate, well controlled studies in pregnant women have not shown increased risk of fetal abnormalities despite adverse findings in animals,
or
In the absence of adequate human studies, animal studies show no fetal risk. The chance of fetal harm is remote, but remains a possibility.

C
Risk can not be ruled out- Adequate, well-controlled human studies are lacking, and animal studies have shown a risk to the fetus or are lacking as well.
There is a chance of fetal harm if the drug is administered during pregnancy; but the potential benefits may outweigh the potential risk.

D
Positive evidence of Risk-Studies in humans, or investigational or post marketing data, have demonstrated fetal risk. Nevertheless, potential benefits from the use of the drug may outweigh the potential risk. For example, the drug may be acceptable if needed in a life threatening situation or serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective.

X
Contraindicated in Pregnancy- Studies in animals or humans, or investigational or post-marketing reports, have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities or risk which clearly outweighs any possible benefit to the patient.

Answer 4

you shouldnt be taking tylenol at all i thought, maybe you should call your dr back to make sure he reliezed you were pregnant, ya know?

Answer 5

Call a women's health group or resource.Even ask your pharmacist.

Answer 6

yes, its comman sense