Pregnancy & Headaches

the only things you cant take are nurofen and similar. Cant remember why, bu they're a big no-no.

I was on Panadeine Forte for a few days when i had back probs, and there's also a panadeine 15 out now, which is between panadeine and panadeine forte.

Yep...Panadol is fine.

I know Danni has written about her headache cure a few times...which alot of people have found incredibly helpful...

I think what it is (and correct me if I'm wrong Danni)...

get a small towel...wet it...and then put it in the microwave for a few minutes (I think!)...it should be pretty hot (but not hot enough to burn you) then wrap it around the back of your neck...

Good luck!

i found panadol to be just fine. Funny thing is, i found them to be far more effective when i was preg, then before hand.

Hi all

I have a terrible headache and have already taken 2 panadol at about 2.30 this morning. I still have the headache but wondered if I could take more panadol?

TIA

Jem

Panadol is fine in pregnancy.

Hope your headache gos away soon.

Just so you know, I was told that Panadol is fine every four hours. The Ob said to me there are women out there that have severe arthritis and things like that where they have to come off all pain relieving drugs when pg and instead take 2 panadol every 4 hours for their whole pg and it does not affect the baby at all. :)

Definately safe just make sure you follow the directions on the pack (a max of 2 tabs per 4 hours not exceeding more than 8 tablets in 24 hrs).

MG

panadol 100% safe. Ive been getting headaches for a week now and my ob told me i could take 2 every 4-6 hours.

Hi

I am 15 weeks and have been getting the worst headaches every day for the past 2 weeks. My ob said its ok to take panadol so i have been taking a couple a day. Is it normal to be getting headaches and how long do they last for? My sinuses are also quite blocked up.

Sara

Hey Sara, sorry to hear you're having bad headaches :hug: When I was pregnant a few of us in the buddies group seemed to have the same problem. It lasted for the early "teen" weeks and stopped around 18 weeks from what I remember.

Yes, thats what happened to me and they were terrible, too. Each headache could last over 24hrs, but as Sarah said, they seemed to die down at around the 20 week mark :)

and did u girls both take panadol to help?

Oh sorry, lol. Yep I took panadol with all of my pgs if I needed it :)

I also had these,,, and they were a nightmare,,, even if i had to wake up in the middle of the night for the loo,, my head was still pounding. As the other girls have said though,, they died out sometime after the 20 weeks mark too. My doctor said it was to do with the surges of hormones, and that panadol was fine

This happened to me at 15 weeks too - they were blinders! My OB also told me to take Pandadol which seemed to lul the pain but not the heavy feeling, he said that it is mainly due to the increased blood supply around 15 weeks, apparently the blood vessels behind the eyes contract causing the terrible pain. My eyesight got worse around this time too and I found that i had to wear my glasses every time i drove.

Hopefully they will leave you alone in the next few weeks, by 20 weeks they were gone for me!

X

thats reassuring to hear that they stop after 20 weeks. 5 more weeks to go lol. my eyes are stinging too but im also at a computer all day so im sure that isnt helping. the joys of pregnancy :)

Hi Sarak,
I was getting really really bad headaches also during my pregnancy and my doctor advised me that I could have Panadine. They got that bad due to sinus and also giving up caffine that I started to take them when it got really bad and it did the trick beautifully!!!
So if you feel you need to check with your GP.. do so and grab yourself some panadine. If you are feeling stressed ect with headaches it can just put more stress on the baby.. (that is what my doc said)

Good luck and I really hope you feel better :)

xoxoxo

Hi SaraK, I am pretty early and have already had my share of headaches. I finally found out that taking a warm shower really seems to do the trick for me. I didn't want to take any meds, so someone suggested it and it works for me. Hope you get some relief.

Yep panadol here when they got bad.

The headaches are caused by the increase in blood volume and by the increaseing hormone levels. Your body will usually adjust to these increased levels by about 20 weeks. Panadol can help but if it does not you can take panadine. No more than 8 tabs in any 24 hours

thanks Alan. i am finding that 2 panadols a day has been doing the trick .

2 panadol a day is quite a small and is completely safe for you and your baby

For sinus relief (or to unblock sinus) I heard Fess is good. it is only a saline solution, but check with Dr or pharmacist before buying to double check it is ok to use whilst pg.

I was getting those shocking headaches up until about 20 weeks too. When they got really bad I'd take two Panadol. Like BD I'm finding that my eyesight is worse than normal and I'm having to wear my glasses more. Thought it was just me, but maybe it is pg related????

Fess is safe for use in pg, I used it when I had a cold early on. The pharmacist recommended it to me. My only problem was that it would then run down my throat and make me throw up (my m/s was pretty awful at that time, it didn't take alot to make me chuck!). But it did clear out my sinuses.

Oh Sara, I know exactly how you feel. My head is killing me as I type. I'm sure staring at this computer is helping. :rolleyes:

My headaches are sinus related too and my neck is soooo stiff. I need a massage but I only had one a week or so ago. Yay for pregnancy!!!

Also, the pharmacist told me Fess is perfectly safe to use - it's just salt water.

Hope you feel better soon.

It is 7.30 pm here, I have a shocking Migraine but no Panadol! I live in a rural area so there is no hope of getting any, by the time I get to the pharmacy it will be closed. (not that I think panadol will do much anyway) The only other thing I have is advil, which contains ibuprofen or panadeine forte.

What on earth do I do?

Hi Clare, Migraines are awful - I suffer from them also and especially in pregnancy. As you know steer clear of the ibuprofen - it is contraindicated in pregnancy, especially early pregnancy. Panadeine forte is okay to take in pregnancy. If the pain is too much taking Panadeine forte is considered safe. I am sure you have done the cold pack hot pack thing, dim lights etc etc. Take good care Clare. :hug:

I know Ibuprofen is a no-no, prob. pandforte is probably also bad, but if your migraine is bad enough...well I've taken mersindol at 4 months before I knew I was pregnant. and my now 4.5 yr old is fine...Otherwise, dark room, and lie quietly?and get off pc!

Thanks Deb
I didn't realise you could take panadeine forte during pregnancy. I am actually allergic to codeine so I will only be taking half a tablet but the pain is unbearable so I have no choice. Yeah I have tried everything including a caffeine hit! I know the computer screen is making it worse but DP was no help and I couldn't find nything in my books.

Thanks off to bed now.

Clare - how are you allergic Sweetie? As you know it's preferable to take nothing but migraine is no walk in the park. :hug:

Just popping back to say I have decided to try going without, have had nice hot shower and I think caffeine is kicking in, so taking the edge off it. Deb - codeine makes me feel funny, almost like a hypoglycaemic attack. Shaking, disorientated, drowsy, which is why when I get bad migraines I usually only take half a tablet, and then only if I am somewhere safe and other people are around to watch Shelby. I don't know how it would effect me while pregnant, which is why I don't think I will take it.

That's really wise Clare. Whilst codeine is considered okay to take in pregnancy it is obviously safest not to take anything if you can help it. I hope you wake this morning feeling better. :hug:

Finally got rid of migraine at 3am! Panadol is definately on todays shopping list

Hi All,

For the past week or so I have been suffering from headaches nearly everyday. I've been taking panadol and drinking heaps of water and nothing is working for me. Today I decided to take the day off from work and go and see my doc and see what he has to say.

Could the headaches be because of my blood pressure? My last checkup was 3 wks ago and everything was OK.

I've been a headache sufferer for years and years so I have just gotten used to them but I dont want to put up with them now incase I am stressing my baby..

TIA :cry:

If you really can't get rid of your headaches, you're probably right to go and see your OB. Even just to ease your mind. I had horrible headaches all the time from around 15-20 weeks, then they went away. I have had a few yucky ones this week though, when I've needed to take panadol, but I think it's just the heat in my case.

I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, but good luck with your Dr, and I hope they go away for you soon!

Oh Clare

You poor thing! Glad to hear it did clear up...but they are so painful, hey?

I thought I was in for one last night too...incredible headache, feeling like I was going to be sick (which even in pregnancy, is unusual for me)...went to bed early with panadol and a hot water bottle...which both sort of helped...

Headache finally gone now...my DH gave me a great back massage this morning, which always seems to help my headaches...

Hope today is a good day for you!

Take care!

Have you tried something stronger than panadol, like forte? Which is ok to take while pg (unless your allergic of course). I'm a migraine sufferer so I know how awful it is to have a cluster of headaches coming and going all the time, and on top of being pregnant. I'm not sure if it's bp related, I've only ever had low bp.
I hope they go away for you soon.

Hey Ngala

My headaches have certainly increased recently...

I find that I have to "catch them early", use panadol (sometimes every 4 hours) and a heat pack/hot water bottle...

That seems to be helping...but they are a pain, hey?

My younger sister suffers from migraines when she is pregnant, and I've had enough to know that they are HORRIBLE! I find that only ibuprofen works for mine, so I am very thankful that I don't get them when I'm pregnant.
My sister took Panadeine Forte for a while, but apparently it is only safe up to a certain number of weeks. Make sure you check with your OB about that, in case you get any more later on. Thankfully her migraines stopped once she was around 14 weeks, or so. (About the time m/s stops for most women - it's a hormonal thing for her.) Hopefully yours won't last too long either!

Glad to hear that you are feeling better Clare and you too Monnie. It sounds like it was the night for headaches.

As Mama pointed out. Panadeine Forte can be taken in pregnancy but codeine isn't something to be taken lightly in pregnancy. When it is needed though so long as it is infrequently it is quite safe. Towards the end of pregnancy the potential is there for the baby to have some effects. This is why it is discouraged in the latter weeks of pregnancy. :hug: