Q&A: Could Tylenol with Codeine hurt my unborn baby?

by Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo

I am four months pregnant, and my doctor has given me a prescription for Tylenol with Codeine for my migranes. I know she's the doctor, but I'm nervous about taking something like this during my pregnancy. Is there any risk to the baby? I heard somewhere that it could cause a cleft palate. Is that true?

Those statistics usually relate to exposure in the first trimester (and even then it's rare), so at four months you should be fine. No one can guarantee that any medicine won't do anything to any baby, but in my practice I would be comfortable prescribing Tylenol with Codeine if indicated (and migraines are a legitimate indication).

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