Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Subutex & Pregnancy

I just signed up for this site because i read alot of helpful things.  Also nice to talk to people that know about addiction and what i am going thru.  I didn't think it would make me feel better all the times my mother told me to join a website and talk to people like me, but just reading people's Q & A's made me feel better...

But anyway, i am 36 weeks pregnant and on subutex.  I asked my OB about any wd's the baby may go thru and all she told me was that he may or may not.. .gotta love the vague answers...  but if anyone knows more than i do, please tell me what to expect after i deliver... I've read some people saying their baby detoxed for weeks and others who didn't even have any wd symptoms and were able to come home right away.  I just want to bring my baby home with me as soon as i can and not put him thru any pain.  I can't imagine a baby going thru wd's.  As adults we can barely handle  it....   but if anyone has any answers, please let me know.  thanks

-lauren
9 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
i am on 2mg of subs and currently 33 weeks pregnant.  Can anyone tell me if they were at 2mg when they delivered and if the baby had to go through wd's?
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
kel kel,
subtext is alot different then the short term opiates .It has been used for about 6 years now to help people get of other drugs it is very very powerful like and is far stronger then morphine normally they taper pregnant patients to the lowest amount of possible for some reason her doctors did not taper her when you get off sub you want to be on about .5mg of sub they have her on 14mg  .So its to late for her to go down.

Unforutely they don't like to discuss long term effects of drug and per
geancy alcohol is a big one for learning disabilities .Unforuetly there are many other drugs that cause problems and the+y dont always have to be addictive drugs you would be surprised .I remember when I got pregnant with my first I was not  using at all back then I was taking a drug called accutane for really bad skin .Luckily I ran out of my scrip when I was only a few weeks along .I had been on birth control because of t
he risks but surprise .This stuff was known to cause major major birth defects .I was so afraid threw my  whole pregnancy the was possibilities for my baby missing ears fingers really bad .thank god I was only on it a very short time.I truly hope thing contiue to go as wonderfully as t+hey are now and if when your kids get in school and happen to have problems you will know to help them get any extra help they needs looking at the other possibilities that can happen its definitely something that can be taken care of..
avis




















Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wow, I didn't know problems could show up later. I consulted several specialist pediatricians after the birth of my children regarding the controlled substance during preg. and they told me the odds were astronomical that symptoms would show up past a year of birth. Thank you for telling me this, I definitely will take the time to research. I knew alcohol use could show up years later. That just supports what I knew already about doctors telling you crap to make you feel better.

I also know nothing about subutex, I am a chronic pain patient, ducking into this forum to see what addiction problems might arise in the future. None right now, but as you can read I'm easily influenced, and don't always learn from my mistakes. However, one of my friends was anesthetized and put through rapid detox while preg. A highly controversial procedure and she had to go overseas to get it done. But that was with morphine addiction. Like I said I don't know anything about subutex.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Laur85, i was reading your story and it sounds so much like mine. I was on suboxone for about a year when i found out i was pregnant and  my dr immediately switched me to subutex and at the time i was taking 4mgs/day. My OB dr told me that i had to maintain a consistent dosage of my subutex during my pregnancy bc the wd's could cause me to lose my baby...i was so afraid of hurting my baby it drove me insane but he was born a healthy baby boy. i ended up having a c-section and when he came out they said that bc he did not go thru the birth canal (which squeezes any amniotic fluid out of their lungs) he had fluid on his lungs so he was in the nicu for 10 days after he was born with pnuemonia, he was pretty fussy from the wd's but they gave him very low doses of morphine until the wd's subsided. I also smoked for part of my pregnancy which may have had something to do with the pnuemonia..but the staff at the hospital would not come out and tell me for sure this was all due to withdrawal or if it was caused by something else.  It was pretty stressful for him but i have a 2 year old perfect baby boy.  Smarter than alot of 3 year olds! He's very healthy and growing normally in every way! One thing all of the dr's involved told me was to definitly NOT breastfeed bc he would end up eventually having to go thru the whole wd process again. Hope this is helpful...just have faith in your higher power, he knows what he's doing and he will never give you more than u can handle! Ill keep u in my prayers!
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
kelkel,
i am very glad that as of now your children appear to be fine. I think we have a common misconception that when they baby is born and it appears to be fine  that we are in the clear . However some of the possible damages  do not show up until later in life .I was a baby born by an addict I seemed fine too until I hit grade school years and had major learning disabilities and adhd .I hope that your children will be spared these things . If you do some research you will find that it can be years after before the children show negative effects of drug use or abuse . Also at 37 weeks pg laur can not quit  14 mg of sub without very negative consequence's.

Laur you are doing exactly what your doctor has told you to do and with only three weeks left to go there would be know way to quit taking it .It would be horrible shock on your system and your babys .As of now they have found no long term effects of using subutex durning pregnancy .Try not to worry take things as they come .If the baby is born addicted they will be prepared and will be able to do everything possible to make your baby comfortable ...We will be here for you PM me anytime you would like it is going to be ok .I commend you for being honest with your doctors and doing what was the best for you baby .It will be ok...
avis
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I quit klonopin medical use, and alcohol addiction cold turkey 8 weeks into my second preg. I was also on 5 other psych meds that I quit cold turkey. Killer wds, ended up in the hospital mult. times due to physical complications. My pregnancy continued just fine, delivery and labor fine, my son is now 2 and absolutely fine from delivery to present. My doctors couldn't believe my son was fine. Using all those meds during the developing fetus stage, and most were FORBIDDEN to use during preg.
I quit lortab medical use at 30 wks. cold turkey with my third preg. I had to be put back on it at wk 38 for excruciating pain due to spine conditions and hardware. I had taken it throughout the whole second trimester up to 30 wks. My preg., labor & delivery, and my son was fine. He is now 7 months old and absolutely fine.
My ob/gyn said it was only a danger during the developing organ stage (malformations), and after 35 weeks (addictions). Short term use after 35 weeks ok, but long term (more than a week) there was chance of an addicted baby. I would seek a second opinion immediately while there is still time to quit if need be.
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
laur,
that is a high amout I can not belive he did not taper you down the lower amount you are on the lesser chance the baby will go threw.You have three weeks left so tapering now most likely will not change the out come .I will be ok ....plz keep in contact so we know what happens have they discussed what will happen if the baby does go into withdrawl?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I had my son in 2013 and they put me up to 16mg (subutex) when I was only on 8mg to start with and said that its better to be on a higher dose? I dont no why? He had no withdrawals other then shock from the highly traumatic birth. Im about to start trying for #2 and Im still on 16mg a day and they dont want to down my dose so Ive started doing it myself.
Avatar universal
i;m on 14 mg/day. and thats what's it's been the whole pregnancy...  the dr said we'd taper down near the end, but here i am 37 weeks and when i asked him last week when i went in for the month script, he said we'll just keep me on the same amount. and now i'm reading all this stuff thats  makin me freak out.......
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
lauren,
yeah they are being vauge because they do know some do and some dont how many mg are you on daily and the amout you are on now is that the about the amout you have been on the whole time  . Your baby may or may not go threw wds then if the baby does they will keep he/she medicate them and help them go threw wd as painless as possable .It will be ok try to relax and enjoy your pergancy :) Let us know how things go.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.