Can I take ibuprofen and codeine while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about ibuprofen and codeine.
In short
Pregnancy: Up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, you could take combined ibuprofen and codeine for a short course, but other painkillers are likely to suit you better.
Breastfeeding: Do not take combined ibuprofen and codeine while breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist, who can recommend a more suitable painkiller.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Ibuprofen can affect your baby's circulation and the amniotic fluid if you take it beyond 20 weeks, or if you take it for more than 2 to 3 days in a row.
- Codeine can affect your baby, particularly near the end of pregnancy, when your baby may become used to it and may have withdrawal symptoms at birth.
- There is also a slightly higher chance of breathing problems in your baby.
- These are usually temporary, but your baby may need a longer hospital stay so they can be monitored.
- Overall, combined ibuprofen and codeine is not recommended in pregnancy; other medicines are more suitable.
- For advice, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Breastfeeding
- Do not take combined ibuprofen and codeine while breastfeeding.
- Speak to your doctor or pharmacist, who can recommend a more suitable painkiller.
- The codeine may get into breast milk in small amounts, and this can make your baby sleepy and cause breathing problems.
- However, you can take ibuprofen by itself while breastfeeding.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Ibuprofen and codeine in pregnancy
The NHS says
Up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, you could take combined ibuprofen and codeine for a short course, but other painkillers are likely to suit you better.
Ibuprofen can affect your baby's circulation and the amniotic fluid if you take it beyond 20 weeks, or if you take it for more than 2 to 3 days in a row.
Codeine can affect your baby, particularly near the end of pregnancy, when your baby may become used to it and may have withdrawal symptoms at birth. There is also a slightly higher chance of breathing problems in your baby. These are usually temporary, but your baby may need a longer hospital stay so they can be monitored.
Overall, combined ibuprofen and codeine is not recommended in pregnancy; other medicines are more suitable. For advice, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
In our words, from the NHS page Ibuprofen and codeine (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
Ibuprofen and codeine while breastfeeding
The NHS says
Do not take combined ibuprofen and codeine while breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist, who can recommend a more suitable painkiller.
The codeine may get into breast milk in small amounts, and this can make your baby sleepy and cause breathing problems.
However, you can take ibuprofen by itself while breastfeeding.
In our words, from the NHS page Ibuprofen and codeine (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Because of its extremely low levels in breastmilk, short half-life and safe use in infants in doses that are much higher than those excreted in breastmilk, ibuprofen is a preferred choice as an analgesic or anti-inflammatory agent in nursing mothers. Giving ibuprofen and acetaminophen on a fixed schedule for 24 hours after vaginal delivery appears to increase the breastfeeding rate. There is no difference in breastfeeding initiation rate between ibuprofen or acetaminophen alone after vaginal delivery.
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Ibuprofen” (LM142), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Ibuprofen while breastfeeding.
Numerous professional organizations and regulatory agencies recommend that other agents are preferred over codeine or to avoid codeine completely during breastfeeding;[1-5] however, these recommendations appear to be based on one case report that has since been discredited, and large population studies have not found codeine to be more dangerous than other opioids that have been studied less and may not be safer.[6-8] Maternal use of any oral opioid in high dosages during breastfeeding can cause infant drowsiness, which can progress to more severe central nervous system depression.[9,10] Newborn infants seem to be particularly sensitive to the effects of even small dosages of narcotic analgesics. If the mother of a newborn requires codeine, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding; however, once the mother’s milk comes in, it is best to provide pain control with a nonnarcotic analgesic and limit maternal intake of oral codeine to 2 to 3 days at a low dosage with close infant monitoring, especially in the outpatient setting.[10-14] If the baby shows signs of increased sleepiness (more than usual), difficulty breastfeeding, breathing difficulties, or limpness, a physician should be contacted immediately.[15] Excessive sedation in the mother often correlates with excess sedation in the breastfed infant. Following these precautions can lower the risk of neonatal sedation.[16] Withdrawal symptoms can occur in breastfed infants when maternal administration of an opioid analgesic is stopped, or when breastfeeding is stopped.
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Codeine” (LM347), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Codeine while breastfeeding.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Nurofen Plus.
Sources
- NHS, Ibuprofen and codeine (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 1 April 2025. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Ibuprofen” (LM142), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Codeine” (LM347), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.