Common Postpartum Pain Medications Removed?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted yesterday to discontinue the use of two medications that are frequently prescribed for postpartum pain - Percocet® and the less commonly used Vicodin®. The reason for the panel's decision is that there are a good number of acetaminophen overdoses that occur accidently when a person takes one of these pain relievers in addition to other medications that also contain acetaminophen, like Tylenol. These drugs are usually prescribed after vaginal childbirth or a cesarean birth and are compatible with breastfeeding. It is not yet clear what the replacement medications will look like for pain relief after childbirth should there be an action on the committee's recommendation but this is a very important issue.

Related:

• Postpartum Pain Relief
• Cesarean Section
• Vaginal Birth

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