Tramadol and Pregnancy

[nina8714]

Hello,

I am currently 3 weeks away from giving birth.  When I found out I was pregnant I was addicted to the Tramadol 50mg tablets.  I took around 16 per day.  When I found out I was pregnant I stopped taking the pills right away.  It took about a week, but I was off very quickly.  I was very depressed, not sleeping and had a lot of anxiety.  When my first trimester ended I began taking around 2 per day.  Taking just 2 per day made me feel much better.  I spoke with my OB about taking 2 per day and he gave me mixed signals about taking them.  He mentioned that I could continue to take two per day, but he didn't feel comfortable giving me a script for them since I was clearly addicted to them.

I continue to take them and I now take around 4 per day.  I am scared now that my baby will be born addicted to this drug.  I feel very bad when I take less than 4 per day, but I am willing to taper off over the next few weeks if this is safe for the baby.  My questions are: If I taper off now could the baby still be born addicted? Could I hurt the baby if I taper off now?  If I feel bad from not taking them, is the baby also suffering?  I would appreciate any information I could get.  I feel horrible, and I don't want to do anything to hurt my baby, but I got myself in a pretty bad situation and I need to know what to do to make it right.

Thanks.

[leilalee]

hi sweetie-
first of all, you are a good mom for coming on here and looking for support!
i too struggle with opiates/pain killers. i was addicted for a year, and now am 5 1/2 month's pregnant on subutex, weaning off in the next two weeks.hopefully anyway...i may stay on if i feel too much discomfort.

from what i have learned, and i am not a doctor, but, did go to an inpatient, detox at the beginning of my second trimester and learn a TON about it.

to this day, i still think about using, and just dont feel like myself. i just have to stay positve and realize taht this is what the drugs did to me! it's my addiction that made me this way, i can and will be happy again, and completely drug free!

so....since you are so close to delivering, i would think the safest thing to do for your baby is to keep taking the tramadol. opiates are not bad for teh baby, it is going to be bad because he/she will be addicted at birth. however, they can easiliy wean him/her using morphine over a week or two, and safely monitor vs now, when you are carrying the baby and they can't monitor how the baby feels. which, if you feel withdrawal so does baby! with that said...i feel like, if you can taper, and NOT feel withdrawals, I would think that would be safe.

another thing to think about, is since you are getting these drugs on teh street i assume? they will have to make a report about that to your local child services, if they suspect your baby is born addicted, and going through withdrawl. you just have to be honest and up front with everyone about this right now! i would even try to get a script from your doctor so that you legally have a reason to be taking these.

ask me any questions, i am here to support! i have had tons of support from people on here, and other opiate sites too.  hang in there sweetie, it will all be okay!