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Prescription meds while pregnant

Im hoping you guys can give me some advice..... Im 5 months prego with horrible headaches. My Dr prescribed me tylenol codeine saying it was safe to take. But when I got it filled the pharmacist made me feel like it was not safe to take.... he said it crosses the placenta and i shouldnt take it too often.... That freaked me out cuz I just had a long conversation with my Dr about it. A good friend of mine was prescribed vicodin during her entire pregnancy and her dr said it was safe cuz it didnt cross the placenta. I wont take anything that often cuz Im afraid of hurting my baby.... have any of you been prescribed pain meds or know anything about it???
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568659 tn?1256139982
I know how you feel my OB prescribed the same thing and I didn't like taking it one bit and actually it didn't help. Studies have proven that narcotics alone don't help with severe headaches so I don't know why I was even given it. My OB gave me a new script and it actually helps, I have been pain free! It is called Butalbital and it is actually meant for headaches, it should only be used if you have severe headaches though.
Good luck, most women's headaches go away by weeks 23 so I hope that is the case for both of us!
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Avatar universal
Actually a pharmacist has more knowledge on medication than a doctor does because that is their career. They get way more hours in school learning about medication compared to a doctor. The only difference is that a pharmacist cannot diagnose someone or write out prescriptions- they can only fill them and warn you of the dangers.

Also, anything you eat, drink, breathe, or digest DOES cross the placenta. Codeine and vicodin are not classed as safe drugs to take while pregnant and should only be taken when the benefit outweighs the risks. There are risks.

I severed my thumb when I was pregnant and I refused pain medication. I couldn't dress myself, shower myself, do the dishes or simple chores. I was in such extreme pain that I could only sit and bite my lip to keep myself from screaming. I was prescribed Tylenol w/ Codeine as well but did not fill the prescription. The only pain medication I accepted was the topical anesthetic when they had to stitch up my thumb.

A lot of pregnant women get headaches. Ask yourself if your baby's health outweighs your pain.
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Avatar universal
I took tylenol with codeine while pregnant with my DD. It didnt affect her one bit. Your doctor knows best. Don't listen to some pharmacist.
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