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MedHelp Member's Question

Oxycodone and Pregnancy

by Nette, Aug 27, 2001 12:00AM
I suffered second & third degree burns on my right arm in an accident in my home on June 1st, 2001.  I am pregnant and my due date is November 4th.  Since the accident I've been taking 5mg oxyir cap (oxycodone).  I took eight capsules per day during June, as well as two oxycontin tablets per day and since mid-July I've taken five capsules of 5 mg oxyir cap per day for pain.  No skin graphs have been done on the wound.  I clean the wound each day with dial anti-bacteria soap and dress the wound with 1% silver sulfadiazine cream.  I've had no other complications related to my pregnancy.  I will be forty years old September 6th and this is my first baby.

The area is not going to be healed before my due date; therefore, unless surgery is performed I will still be taking the oxycodone when my baby is born.  I am very concerned about having surgery at this point due to the risk of premature labor and since the recovery time would be about six weeks which means I would still require pain medication until about two to four weeks before my due date.  My doctors do not seem to know how the use of oxycodone will affect my baby if I continue to use the medication near or through my due date.

Is there any research on the effects of oxycodone on a new born whose mother has taken the medication as I have during pregnancy?  At this point would surgery provide enough benefits to my baby to justify all the risks involved in the surgical procedure and recovery period?  Are there any other alternatives in my treatment to help ensure the health of my baby?
Member Comments (37)

by jennyfla, Aug 27, 2001 12:00AM
To: Nette
Hi Nette,



Look up perscription drugs as a search, i know there's a website that gives you particulars on effects that drugs have as they relate to pregnancy.

I do not believe, in your low doses, that you are causing any harm to your unborn baby (this is only my opinion).  I believe that opiates have a very low (cross-over through the placenta) capacity.

How things like cocaine, speed, and drugs such as these, they are extremely dangerous for the unborn fetus.

Your doctor should be able to give you reassurance at least, he/she should know how to handle your situation best!

Good luck, that must be so difficult battling your burns and going through pregnancy, preparing for a newborn at the same time.

Jenny

by Witchywoman, Aug 27, 2001 12:00AM
I agree with Jenny, that it is best to ask your Obgyn doctor these questions. An MD will better be able to answer what the medical impact on the baby would be.

With that said, I will say that a few months ago at work, I attended a training at work on pregnancy and drug abuse. The Doctor who gave this training did say that if a woman is taking hydrocodone (vicodin) during her pregnancy, that the baby will be born physically dependant, and will have to undergo uncomfortable withdrawals after birth.  I don't know for sure if the same holds true for oxycodone, but I would assume that it does.

But..definately check with your doctor, and best of luck to you..keep us posted!



WW

by cindi, Aug 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: nette
Hi  the girls are right   check with you ob doc but when I was six months preg. with my first I was in a severe care accident  some old lady ran a red light,  I had a concussion etc...My doc put me on Lorcet or Vicodin ES I can't remember he said this late in the game I need not worry about the baby  (easy for him to say )  like the girls said   check with your ob....please keep us posted and let us know when that little gift arrives....I had mine late   I was 33 and 37... I wanted one more but I think I'll stop while I'm ahead...good luck to you    love to all   cin

by Witchywoman, Aug 28, 2001 12:00AM
Good morning...

I had such a wierd and scary dream last night. I dreamed I went to the Doctor's and was given a full bottle of percocet (not sure why percocet..I never took that one). In the dream I held the bottle and looked at the pills, trying hard to fight the urge to take one.  I woke up, and couldn't go back to sleep, but was relieved that it was only a dream.



Is this normal? I mean, is it common to dream about using again when you are trying to stay clean?



I'm hoping my sleep cycle gets back to normal soon. I go back to work (after 3 months off post surgery) a week from today, and I normally need a full 8 hours to function at my best. In the past, I'd knock myself out with vicoprofen before bed, and sleep through the night, but I'm not going to choose that option anymore.  How long till normal sleep tends to return?



Sending you all love and light,



WW

by jule1, Aug 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindi
How are you doing Cindi, I have been thinking about you and hope you are doing better this week!  Have a happy day!

by cindi, Aug 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: WW and JBEAR
Hi ladies,,,Jbear,,   I'm still here,,,tired and very busy,,,I get cranky when things get chaotic LOL  I like my life simple and normal....thanks for thinking of me...and WW,  Yes it is entirely normal to have "using dreams"  i had one not very long ago.....pisses me off..LOL   it varies for each person as to how long before your sleep cycle is normal....can you try some natural herbs such as KAVA KAVA or Valerian root?  I have also used Melatonin with fairly good results....have a great evening    Love cin

by skipper, Aug 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: Witchy WOMAN
Hey there:

I haven't used a needle in 20 years, and just the other night

I dreamed I was shooting coke and black tar heroin (speed-balls).

Ich, I hate coke (even in a speedball),the way that only some-one

else who's been there can. Even so, here I'm casing after that

old icy girl. I usally wake up in a cold sweat. I think this is quite common among recovering. Don't let it bother you, just keep

moving. Hope you are thru the worst of WD's.

Keep an angel on your shoulder

kip

by Thomas, Aug 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: Nette
There must be some doctors out there who have had to deal with something like what you're going through. You can't be the first pregnant woman to be badly burned or otherwise injured in an accident ... that said I would imagine that, besides the physical dependance, a doctor's big concern at delivery would be the suppression of the baby's breathing by the narcotics. At the same time, they gave my wife several demerol shots (ahh demerol, you're just a distant but o so fond memory ...) and it didn't seem to complicate my son's birth. It's possible they might require you to taper down, despite the pain, before delivery, if only to make sure you're baby could breath when he made his debut. One thing, at least, opiates are well-known to be virtually benign in terms of their effect on the body. There aren't many drugs you can say that about. So, at least I wouldn't worry about causing birth defects such as would be the case if you were drinking or doing crack. Be glad in a way it's an opiate and not something else. Good luck. I hope you find the answer.



Thomas

by Witchywoman, Aug 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: cindi and everyone
Thanks Cindi..I think I will try valerian tonight. I still have four of the 10 valiums I had scrounged up for my detox, but I don't want to take them for sleep, 'cause I'm worried that will just delay my body's natural sleep process from returning, and I also am terrified of developing a benzo dependance  lol I know I won't get dependant with only 4, but after the withdrawals I've just been through..I don't want to ever experience anything like that ever again.



Would taking a benzo to help me sleep for the next few nights delay my body's own natural sleep cycle from returning?



I know I've said this before...but I'll say it again just to be loud and obnoxious about it...YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!



love,

WW

by cindi, Aug 28, 2001 12:00AM
To: Nette
I agree wholeheartedly with Thomas about the birth defects..opiates are not known for causing defects. check out the website Rxlist.com  they may have a pregnany category  like category f would be hormones etc..benzodiazapenes Valiuum etc...I think opiates are a cat.c  I'm not sure....i lived with the PDR when I found out I was pregnant I had been on dalmane for sleep and vicodin for pain,,,I quit immediately.....but was so nervouse..like thomas said they may ask you to cut back before delivery..I really think the both of you will be fine......love to all  cin.