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MedHelp Member's Question

hydrocodone and being pregnant.

by Tweety28, Mar 11, 2004 12:00AM
can anybody tell me what is the possibilties in taking hydrocodone (Lortab) and being pregnant?what are the chances in delievering a heathly baby if stopped taking this medicine at 8 months?Was taking a high does but cut back to only (1-2) 7.5mgs a day.Was taking up to (4-5) 10.650mgs a day.I know some people that their doctors gave them this medicine for headaches and very bad pain problems.I had a very bad back injury and now being pregnant it is worse I also have very bad headaches every now and then.I had this medicine before i got pregnant and had refills that is why i still have it.Alot of people tell me it will not do anyhting as lng as i stopped at least a month or so before baby was born but i know anything and everything has a chance of harming the baby.I just need to hear from others that went throught it.I know that this is not as bad as drinking and doing cocaine I dont like to compare myself to anybody but I take this for pain not to just take it I know a girl that drank and done cocaine throught her whole pregnancy and her baby has been checked and the doctors say everything is fine and she is heathly Im sure there is going to be problems when she gets older but I want to know if I am looking at those problems as well?The doctors tells you that you can take tylonal and that is 500mgs a pill and with my pain I need 2 at a time I even had to take up to 6 in one day with the headaches in all the doctors said that was fine.But dont you think if (1-2) Hydrocodone help my pain with only 500mgs rather thatn all then tylonals?Only 7mgs of hydrocodone Please let me no
Member Comments (16)

by Tweety28, Mar 11, 2004 12:00AM
I was taking the high does before I got pregnant.Cut back as soon as I found out at 4 weeks.tweety28

by slsa2000, Mar 11, 2004 12:00AM
I am not sure about taking it for that length of time, but my Dr. gave it to me to take for headaches from 14-18 weeks. He said that I could take 2 every 4-6 hours but I only took one per day and it was the lowest mg. You should check with your Dr. Good Luck!

Shannon

edd 4/14/04

by dragica, Mar 11, 2004 12:00AM
Well Im not sure what that medication is and hope you find your answer but am also hoping if someone can tell me if I take oral antibiotics for a throat infection streptococcus what will it do to a cycle while ttc and if fertilazation occurs does it have any effects?

by Still a mom, Mar 11, 2004 12:00AM
Before I found out I was pregnant I had had bad sinus infection.  I was on strong antibodics and also had IV therapy to get rid on the infection.  (About 5 weeks at the time) After I found out I was preg. I asked my dr. and he said that they could not tell if the baby was affected.  He also said that if they had know I was preg they would have put me on other meds.  I don't know if this is what caused me to lose my son, but I would talk to the doctor before taking an antibodics.

by Noelscat, Mar 19, 2004 12:00AM
First off, from the responses to this question, I do not believe that most people know what Hydrocodone is.  Hydrocodone is a presription NARCOTIC used for moderate to severe pain.  It is always combined with another OTC drug (as it is a combination drug) such as Ibruprofen, Acetaminophen, cortisone, etc.  This drug works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, and acetaminophen decreases the formation of prostaglandins, therefore reducing pain.  Moreover, it is a CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE and exceeding the recommended dose or taking this medicine for longer than prescribed may be habit-forming.  



Let me say that it isn't the amount of mg of the drug you are taking but WHAT IT IS that you are taking that matters.  You see, Tylenol is ACETAMINOPHEN which has been tested as relatively safe during pregnancy.  Lortab (which is brand name Hydrocodone) is BOTH ACETAMINOPHEN and an ADDED NARCOTIC.  IT IS CONTRAINDICATED DURING ANY STAGE OF PREGNANCY.  



I understand that you care deeply about your baby.  We all know of people that did horrible things during their pregnancies such as your friend who used cocaine and alcohol ... let me tell you... she is simply lucky.  And, as you stated, we have no idea the long term effects her actions have had on her baby.



I implore you to speak to your doctor about managing your pain safely while pregnant.  You should NEVER take prescription, or for that matter OTC drugs without consulting your doctor.  Your OB needs to know that you have been taking your old prescription so that he/she may advise you how to correctly ween yourself from this potentially dangerous drug.



Good luck and my prayers are with you.



Kathryn

by kristio, Aug 13, 2007 06:44PM
To: Tweety28
It isn't always contraindicated in pregnancy.  Kathryn's insight is well-intended but not well-informed.  Before pregnancy I never experienced migraines, rarely did I even have headaches for that matter, and a few weeks into both my pregnancies experienced MONSTER MIGRAINES that caused me to end up in the emergency room where a shot of demerol with phenergan was given.  I was very nervous about allowing the shot but the hospital told me that the high bp and stress from migraine was worse and that demerol has been safely used in pregnancies for years.  SO they prescribed me Tylenol 3 for the migraines.  I researched it heavily because all my relatives who found out about the prescription made me feel like a horrible mother.  What I learned is that with codeine there is no clearly proven negative side effect except in long-term use at term.

Nonetheless, along came one of my RN friends to FREAK out and tell me that OMG THAT COULD CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.  So, shaking, I went to my doctor and asked about it.  Both doctors I spoke to told me that untreated migraines are bad for mother and baby and under no circumstances should a woman feel that suffering through them is the right choice rather than take a medication her doctor deems safe.  Further, she told me that codeine and hydrocodone (which she had ended up prescribing b/c the codeine was worthless for the migraines) have been safely used in thousands and thousands of pregnancies under a doctor's supervision and that my primary concern should be avoiding addiction since my migraines are almost daily.

I have two other girlfriends who experienced terrible hormone migraines during pregnancy; one was prescribed fioricet and the other was prescribed hydrocodone.  Both warned me not to mention I was being treated to anyone because everyone thinks they know better than the doctor when it comes to a pregnant uterus; for example, my uncle warned me against taking a business trip because I would have to fly even though I would only be 12 weeks along.  He told me it was irresponsible because "Why take any chances?"  That's what everyone says.  But there are no unnecessary risks in doing what one's doctor has given the okay on.

So don't feel you have to suffer.  Your doctor should treat you for your pain.

Good luck.

by meggsvalley, Sep 24, 2007 04:58PM
To: everyone
Well.... I have been taking hydrocodone (Norco 10/325)) for migraines durring my pregnancy. I would like to stop taking them. Is it healthy to go through withdrawl while pregnant?? Will it hurt the baby? I am so upset, PLEASE Help!

by babyboy3, Oct 06, 2007 10:55AM
To: meggsvalley
I am 6 months pregnant and have been taking Vicodin for 3 months now.  I take anywhere from 1 to 5 a day, depending on the pain