New to methadone have some questions.

[New2This2010]

I was using hydrocodone, either 7.5 mg or 10mg about 3 times a day for quite a while before learning I was pregnant. I wanted to just stop cold turkey, but due to the physical withdrawls that was not an option especially being pregnant. I went to a pain management center to try to get on Suboxone. The Dr said they don't use Suboxone on pregnant women and that Methadone is the standard/safe method. He said I had a very low dose addiction and he started me on a low dose of Methadone 10mg 3 X day and we are going to try to get me off of it before I have the baby.. I have found the 10 mg to be to strong so he has me cutting it in half taking 5mg 2 X a day. Anyway what I am wondering is, why use Methadone to get off of Hydrocodone? Its seems like overkill in a sense, as it is stronger than the hydro in the first place (right)? Plus you have to taper off anyway so it seems like your just in the same boat. I asked him why I don't just stay on the Hydro's and taper down, this seems to make the most sense. But I guess the Methadone is safer than the Hydro? That doesn't make sense though as I know plenty of preg women who have been prescribed Hydro while preg so it can't be all that bad. Anyway I started on the Methadone and I just want some advice whether this is the safest/best way to go or if I have made a huge mistake. The Dr is proud of me for taking this step to get off the Hydro, but it just feels like I am on something worse now? Sorry so long I am just new to all this!

[TashaM1630]

I know from a presonal experience with a friend the dihydrocodeine is alot less safe than methadone and there is less withdrawal if you are stable and not using any other illicit drugs then your baby should be fine. If you are going to be off in  time then i would be focusing on that and taking a doctors advice about the methadone, codeine tabs are far more worse than methadone and have different effects on the baby. The reason you have been put on meth is bcoz codiene is an opiate and off the same family as heroin therefore has 2 be treated the same because it all belongs to the 1 family good luck with your reduction etc and hope all goes well

[New2This2010]

Thank you for the wonderful advice. I will be seeing the pain management Dr in the morning about this issue. I do NOT feel I need to be on Methadone. It all started when I looked up Suboxone on the internet and used the link to find a Dr. near me with the advice of my OB. I explained to them at the clinic I was pregnant and do they still see preg women for Suboxone and they said yes. Well all said and done at the appt the Dr. then tells me he can't give me the Suboxone and that the Methadone is what is safe and that he will be starting me on a low dose and the goal is to taper off before baby is born. I thought to myself well that sounds ok so I will try it. But 2 days into this and the Methadone is HORRIBLE! I tried calling my OB to tell him they put me on Methadone instead of Suboxone cause we were both under the impression I would be given Suboxone, but the OB is out of the office all week. I am just going to explain to the Dr. I do not want or feel I need to be on this medicine and could I please try tapering off the Hydrocodone, but I don't want him to think I am just trying to get more Hydrocodone. That is NOT the case, I want to get off, but this Methadone is insane and I am worse now. At least on my 3 a day Hydrocodone I could FUNCTION! I have never understood why they give Methadone to get people off opiates when its an opiate itself, much stronger, and HARD AS HELL to get off of. Seems like you just stay in the same boat UGH! Well thanks again and sorry so long lol! Take care.

[monkey36]

I stopped cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant in 2007........ they never gave me an option for alternative medicine. I would definatley talk to your ob to make sure that the baby wil be ok with this big change.  God bless !

[dominosarah]

The ONLY advice you should be listening to is your OB doctor..........sara

[lysersproblem]

I went from taking 60mg of hydrocodone a day to taking none over a 5 week period when I found out I was pregnant. I used to take 3 5/500 every 4 hours and started off by making that 2.5 5/500. I didn't notice any withdrawals from that so a couple days later I went to 2. Then I dropped it to every 5 hours, then every 6 hours and got it to where I was taking 2 2X a day. After a bit I went to 1.5 2X a day and so on. I had it down where I was taking half a pill twice a day when I stopped completely. I noticed next to no withdrawal symptoms at any point during my tapering and same thing when I stopped. If it's any comfort, my child is perfectly happy and healthy and was a great weight and full term. Nothing is more motivating to be healthy than a pregnancy.
I would stay away from methadone, talk to your OB or just stop the methadone and start the tapering of the vicodin. If you can't do the latter on your own, ask your husband/boyfriend, friend, etc. It's much worse for a developing baby than vicodin is. You have to really pick the better of the two evils in this kind of situation. Just my opinion.

[justneedtotalk]

I personally went from a 60-100mg a day hydro, perc, methadone habit to a full time methadone dependency....Luckily for me I found this site and other resources through people here that allowed me to fully research the pro's and con's of methadone.  I am not a doctor by any means but did endless hours of research.  For the most part methadone is usually the last ditch effort for severe opiate addiction and heroin users.  In very short periods of time methadone has been known to lessen the intiail blows of opiate detox but mask the symptoms.  If you use methadone for much longer than a few months your body quickly adapts to its current dosage as asks for more.  There are a few people on this site that have been a huge support and knowledge base for me and they are the true professionals with months and years under their belt of sobriety.  I peronally think that this detox off of methadone has been by far the worst detox of my life....It has been 100 times worse than any hydro detox I had done in the past (which were many)!  Also, methadone stays in your system a lot longer and may inpact your baby situation.  Really try and talk to your doctors about any other method other than methadone if at all possible.  Methadone is a very harsh and potent chemical and to some has been deemed the most addictive substance man has ever created!  Good luck and god bless!

[hellc@mst]

Were you prescibed the hydrocodone? I only ask because doctors are not allowed to prescribe opioids other than methadone or suboxone/subutex for maintenance purposes.

[IBKleen]

Don't apologize. You have every right to be concerned. Is this your OBGYN?

[gnarly_1]

HI....I agree with the others talk to your O/B and let him/her know your concerns your hydro habit is not that large substituting 30 mg of methadone is insane thats like 3 times as much as you need for a small habit like yours 1 10mg pill should cover you...I would tell the doctors you want to try and taper off the hydro first at your dose it is very doable
methadone is a really strong narcotic and the withdrawals are horable from it
I was on it for 6 1/2yrs and it took 90 days just to start to feel better it is nothing you want to go threw with a new baby on the way ...time to let your doctor know you have done some research on your own and dont think methadone is a good choice for you I wish you all the luck in the world with your doctor let us know what they say .....Gnarly    

[bmdad]

You would be better off tapering the vicodin. Vicodin is prescribed to pregnant women all the time for pain if needed. Granted, it would be safer not to take anything though. Methadone will cause much worse withdrawals for you and your baby. The withdrawals will tougher with methadone even if you do a slow taper. Methadone can save some people's lives but for someone taking less than 30mgs of vicodin a day switching to methadone is absurd. Why not taper the vicodin? It can be tough tapering because it takes so much willpower. It will be just as hard tapering the methadone too. If you have problems tapering give the pills to someone else so they can dole them out to you.
Like mentioned above, you need to talk to your OB. The doctors at the pain management may not be qualified to treat a pregnant woman. Methadone is so much stronger than vicodin and the doctor starting you on 30mgs of methadone. That right there speaks for itself. You could have probably gotten by taking less than 5mgs of methadone. Even if you only took 5mgs of methadone the withdrawals would be much worse than 30mgs of vicodin. Your OB has dealt with the situation before and will know the best course of action. Either way you must taper as going cold turkey could harm your unborn child.
Before continuing the methadone set up an appointment with your OB and see what they recommend. I'm guessing they will just have you taper the vicodin.
Let us know what your OB says.
Best of luck and congrats on the pregnancy!!

Brian

[sky_is_the_limit]

Methadone was the devil for me. definetly talk to your OB. That is overkill. Every doctor seems to have different opinions but please , what ever you do, do not get addicted to methadone. My withdrawls lasted for months (almost a year)

                                                                  sky_is_the_limit

[LeaAnn807]

Total overkill in my opinion!  Talk to your OB about it, ok?  That's a lot of methadone for a low dose hydro addiction.  

[vicki595]

What does your OB say about this?   I have the same questions you have. Talk with you OB. He/she really knows the best in this situation.

Good luck!