Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking co-dydramol

You can take co-dydramol in pregnancy if you need to.

Co-dydramol contains paracetamol and dihydrocodeine. Although paracetamol is safe to take at any time in pregnancy, taking dihydrocodeine towards the end of pregnancy may cause your baby to have withdrawal symptoms, such as drowsiness, after they're born. Your baby may need extra time in hospital for observation.

It's important to treat pain in pregnancy. Co-dydramol might sometimes be the best option for pain during pregnancy, but speak to your doctor. They can help you decide what's right for you and your baby.

If your doctor or midwife says your baby is healthy, it's usually OK to take co-dydramol while breastfeeding. However, only take it if your doctor advises you to. Try to take it in low doses and only use it for a short time.

It's usually better to take paracetamol on its own while breastfeeding.

Co-dydramol contains paracetamol and dihydrocodeine. Paracetamol gets into breast milk in small amounts. It's not known how much dihydrocodeine gets into breast milk, but it's also thought to be a small amount. It's unlikely that co-dydramol will cause any side effects in your baby.

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, midwife, or health visitor if you have any concerns about your baby while you are breastfeeding. This includes if your baby:

• is not feeding as well as usual
• has constipation

• your baby is unusually sleepy
• your baby has breathing problems

However, these effects are very rare, and unlikely to happen, especially with low strength co-dydramol taken for a short time.

Taking co-dydramol that contains higher levels of dihydrocodeine, for a long time, can make it more difficult for you to get pregnant or to make someone pregnant. This is because dihydrocodeine can cause hypogonadism (where the body stops making enough sex hormones).

When you stop taking co-dydramol, your sex hormones should go back to normal.

If you're worried about co-dydramol and your fertility, talk to your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you're:

• trying to get pregnant
• pregnant
• breastfeeding