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Addicted to lortab and 11 weeks pregnant

I am 11 weeks pregnant and addicted to lortabs, I take anywhere from 5-10  pills that are the 7.5 strength a day, I read online that just quitting cold turkey could cause miscarriage, please if there is anyone who has been thru this please respond, I dont know what to do and I am terrified
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Avatar universal
forgot to add to watch list.
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Avatar universal
Hey Lv,
I wrote a big long post and I accidently hit the back button on my computer and lost it all!  Argh.  I recieved your add request, looked at your profile, and found this post.
Anyway.  I wanted to let you know that it's great that you are getting the information you need to protect your baby.  Having pain in pregnancy is scary and so is taking medication.  
I think it's great that you're going to tell the doctor.  Honesty is always the best policy.  Hopefully they will be understanding and helpful.
I had a question:  Are you prescribed the lortabs?  If you are, you should call the doctor who is prescribing them to let them know you're pregnant.  Some doctors won't see a pregnant woman, so it's important to know where they stand so that you can find a new doctor if you need to.
If not, you should definetly tell the OB and that way they can create a safe tapering schedule for you.  
I wish you the best of luck with it all.  I hope it goes well with the doctor.  This forum is great for support when you are tapering or just to talk.
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Avatar universal
Thank you everybody for ALL your input & what I have decided to do is swallow my pride and tell my Dr on wednesday the truth. I am scared but that does not matter, what matters is that my child has the best chance. I appreciate all advice that has been given to me here & thank you all for for being honest & not judging, I feel good about talking to the Dr now as yesterday I did not and thats because of all the great advice you all have offered up to a complete stranger, I cant thank you enough for giving me the courage to to tell the Dr!! I will keep you updated and let you all know how the wednesday appointment goes. Good night and god bless
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1406964 tn?1283203866
I hope I've made it absolutely clear that I would strongly discourage anyone from detoxing during pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage, especially in the first and third trimesters are too high.

My tapering suggestion is only for if you are taking beyond the recommended daily dose, in which case my suggestion would be to slowly taper down to a safe dose. If you can taper further without inducing any withdrawal symptoms fine. If not I would suggest remaining on a low dose throughout the pregnancy

Some women are determined to go cold turkey as soon as they find out they are pregnant, and in my opinion this is the worst possible thing to do. It is high risk. Hope that clarifies.
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Avatar universal
Jeremy~  I really don't believe she received "generic responses".  No one here said anything that would imply detoxing a fetus.  How erudite of you!
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185545 tn?1331074866
   Hi and congratulations on your pregnancy.I thought Pattifan had some great advice but i understand completely your reservations with regards to methadone.

  A doctor should be able to give you some sound advice on detoxing safely. While i hear you when you say that watching a newborn withdraw is distressing i wonder how a withdrawing fetus is any better. Look, i m not judging you but i have a far more pragmatic view when it comes to opioid dependant pregnancy. I kind of think that the fetus is better served by maintaining mothers on the minimum dose required to stave off withdrawals throughout the entire pregnancy.

  An otherwise healthy, fullterm baby stands a much greater chance,in my opinion, of coping with withdrawals than a fetus. The baby is in a hospital setting, surrounded by medical proffesionals who are able to observe and moniter a withdrawing baby and provide symptomatic relief when required. A fetus on the other hand is afforded nowhere near the same medical attention and has few options available if it does require any medicinal intervention. The fetus is far more vulnerable than a newborn to suffer from complications that may arise during the withdrawal process.

Look. Im not trying to make you feel bad. You have done nothing wrong. I just want to present an alternative to the generic responses posted on this forum whenever a pregnant opioid dependant woman posts questions like this. From what i ve read i think my response more accurately reflect the opinion of the mainstream medical proffession and responses in favour of fetal detox are more in line with an outdated ideology. That is,out of site out of mind. A detoxing fetus noone can see or help is somehow better than a visible detoxing newborn with unfettered access to the complete amoury of medical expertise.

  Anyways. Please read this knowing it came from a genuine and sincere heart only wanting to paint a more complete picture. At the end of the day the fetus or baby may not experience any withdrawals at all. Some misinformed people are of the opinion that all fetus exposed to regular doses of opioids are automatically destined to suffer withdrawals. Again,untrue.

All the best. Kind regards Jeremy.
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Avatar universal
Hi~

You need to get with an OB immediately. Start calling for an appt. In the meantime,try to keep your usage where it is. The doctor will offer you a taper plan. Let him/her advise you. It's very important. You don't want to play around with dosages here...any changes may stress that baby. Get some proper medical advice.

Try to calm down,as well.  I'll try to direct you to Jadedsweetheart's profile:  Go back to "forums". Click on "pain management". It will bring you to that forum page. There you can post a question to "Jaded" or click on her screen name when you see it. She's often on the forum so you'll find her.

Don't worry and don't take methadone.  :)

Vicki
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Avatar universal
Thanks pattifan, I definitely do not want to use methadone ,I have seen what a withdrawing newborn looks like and I am determined to deliver drug free I am just trying to find a way to get off this drug without harming my unborn child, the tapering idea is sounds like the best thing to do but I dont know how to do it exactly, not sure how much to taper off  each day, its confusing! And on top off all this I have to stand at computer all day for 8 hours at work. This makes things that much harder, its sooo painful with back problems to stand all day with no pain meds and now the stress of a pregnancy on my back, im sooo overwhelmed!!
Helpful - 0
1406964 tn?1283203866
Definitely do not try to go cold turkey while pregnant.

It can be dangerous to the fetus, especially in the first three months.

If you're using within prescribed limits, it's very unlikely your baby will come to any harm at all but you do need to inform your doctor or midwife.

Some women opt to transfer to methadone over their pregnancy, and while this is considered safe, the 'baby withdrawals' following birth can be very upsetting although there is little evidence of any long term effects.

If you're taking over the prescribed limit, then slowly tapering down to a safe dose would be advisable, but only under medical advice.
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Avatar universal
ohhh thank you for writing, I am anxious to hear from you tonight!
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Avatar universal
I read the article but could not get to her profile, I am new to this website and maybe am not navigating correctly please help me get to her profile
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1402969 tn?1324690560
I also took hydrocodone pills while I was pregnant, actually until I went into the hospital to give birth. I will write more this evening.
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495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/219225/Chronic-Pain-and-Pregnancy?personal_page_id=1039015

This is an article a girl from the Pain Management forum posted in her journal.  She told me i could send people to her profile.  You dont want to go Cold Turkey off these.  Have you talked to your doctor?  That is the best thing to do.         sara
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