24 Sep 2025
Is Panadol safe for Headaches in Pregnancy?
How common are headaches during pregnancy?
Many women experience headaches during their pregnancy. Most of these headaches are mild and improve after the first trimester. Many of these headaches are present even before the pregnancy but worsen during the first few months of pregnancy because of hormonal changes. However, in the second and third trimesters, changes in the hormones result in a decrease in the frequency and severity of headaches in a most patients.
Type of headaches
Headaches are generally divided into primary and secondary headaches:
Primary headaches refer to headaches that aren’t due to an underlying condition. Examples of these headaches include tension headaches and migraines. Tension headaches are the most common type of headaches in pregnant women but these are generally not debilitating. Migraines are the 2nd most common type of headaches in pregnant women and these types of headaches are generally more debilitating and drive women to seek help .
Secondary headaches are headaches that are due to a serious underlying condition. During pregnancy, conditions such as preeclampsia or cortical venous thrombosis may result in headaches. If your doctor thinks that such a condition is possible, you will need further evaluation in the form of blood tests, urine tests and imaging. Overall, primary headaches are much more common that secondary headaches.
Self-care
If your headache is mild and similar to previous headaches prior to your pregnancy, it can be treated with self-care and over-the-counter medications. Simple things that you can try at home include drinking plenty of water, taking a nap, doing something relaxing, or putting a cold or hot pack over the painful area.
Over-the-counter Medications
If you need to take medications for your headache, Paracetamol (also known as Panadol, Tylenol or Acetaminophen) is considered to be safe to use during pregnancy – particularly when it is used episodically or for a short period of time. In particular, paracetamol can be used at any point during the pregnancy.
While there are some studies linking paracetamol use during pregnancy with behavioural changes in children, experts have found these studies unreliable. As such, recommendations for the use of Paracetamol during pregnancy has not been altered by the findings of these studies.
Apart from Paracetamol, another medication that is available over-the-counter in Singapore is a class of medications called NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Examples of these medications include Ibuprofen (Nurofen, Nuromol) and Naproxen (Aleve).
NSAIDS are generally considered less safe when compared to Paracetamol. If you are considering the use of these medications, it is important inform your doctor first.
What happens if the headaches are not getting better?
It is important to not ignore your headaches. If your headaches are not improving, it is important to consult your doctor to ensure that more serious problems are not at play. For example, during pregnancy, a bad headache can sometimes be a sign of preeclampsia. Ignoring the signs of preeclampsia can result in seizures, bleeding issues, strokes and can affect the health of your child.
