Ok, but how do they rule out codeine usage while pregnant? I’m not sure about the US, but in Ireland, small doses of codeine + ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen) are readily available from pharmacies without a prescription, and as far as I’m aware they’re not strictly recommended against during pregnancy.
Interestingly a few states do offer a Codeine cough syrup without a prescription[0].
From the article: “Codeine regulation varies widely across countries and states. In some states, including North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, and Iowa,1,2 pharmacists can dispense a small quantity of cough syrup containing codeine OTC. Based on individual state law, this information may not be logged into the prescription drug monitoring program, which may contribute to providers being unaware of their patients’ use of codeine.”
This is an exceedingly rare practice in the US however.
Interesting. As far as I know only the combinations with a higher strength codeine are prescription only in Ireland. It’s the same in the UK, as far as I know (presumably because it would be nigh impossible to prevent small amounts of cross-border smuggling with the North)z
Most opiates on the other hand, would be rarely prescribed by doctors
Interesting, are you located outside the US? I've lived in Washington state, Utah, Maryland, and briefly in Missouri and Massachusetts, and I've never seen or heard of this happening. (And I am a woman of reproductive age.)
