Expert advice Q&A
 Is codeine safe to take in pregnancy?
 There are few drugs that can be said to be 100 per cent safe during pregnancy. Stronger painkillers - such as those containing codeine - are usually avoided in pregnancy. There is in fact very little evidence of harm associated with the use of codeine in pregnancy but some doubts about its safety do exist. Codeine is what is known as an opioid analgesic (related to morphine) and should not be used routinely in pregnancy. However, it may be used when the benefit is considered to outweigh any risk to the fetus. Codeine is not associated with congenital abnormalities and the risks associated with its use seem to apply mainly to the last three months of pregnancy. If used in the last trimester, codeine may depress the baby's respiration and its regular use during this time may lead to withdrawal effects in the baby after birth. The effects of codeine on the woman's nervous system could also make her more prone to gastric stasis and inhalational pneumonia during labour.
Answer provided by Dr Jo Lee
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