Aa
on several meds, need advice asap
i am 7 moths preggo and i have been taking 3000 mg of nuerontin (gabapantine), oxycodone 5 times a day 20 mg and take oxycodone 15 mg in between depending on my pain, and i take soma. i ahve been trying to lower all my drugs because i do not want my baby to suffer severe withdrawls. i find it very hard to get off the soma, i have been taking for four years now and it's not easy. i have apinched shoulder never, and a pinched spinal cord in the C6 spine sever carpul tunnel, cubital tunnel and i don't know what to do. my doctor thinks i'm done taking the soma, but i'm not. i really want to detox, my baby shows fine in all four ultrasounds, but it s the withdrawls i'm worried about and i feel like a terrible mom. what can i do to get off on my own? thank you.
Different states handle things very differently.. Some states are testing all babies not just babies with wd syptoms . Regardless of the state PLZ tell your doctor about your use for the sake of both you and your baby .
here are different states stances on this subject
Unborn Victims of Violence Laws:
Prenatal use of drugs by mother
10 states define substance abuse during pregnancy as “child abuse” under civil
child-welfare statutes: AR, CO, FL, IN, MD, NV, SC, SD, TX, and WI
7 states require healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use:
AL, AZ, MA, MI, MT, OK, and UT
1 state requires healthcare professionals to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure
when there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: KY
1 state requires healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use and
requires healthcare professionals to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure when
there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: ND
2 states define substance abuse during pregnancy as “child abuse” under civil childwelfare
statutes, require healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use,
and require healthcare professional to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure when
there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: IA and
here are different states stances on this subject
Unborn Victims of Violence Laws:
Prenatal use of drugs by mother
10 states define substance abuse during pregnancy as “child abuse” under civil
child-welfare statutes: AR, CO, FL, IN, MD, NV, SC, SD, TX, and WI
7 states require healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use:
AL, AZ, MA, MI, MT, OK, and UT
1 state requires healthcare professionals to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure
when there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: KY
1 state requires healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use and
requires healthcare professionals to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure when
there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: ND
2 states define substance abuse during pregnancy as “child abuse” under civil childwelfare
statutes, require healthcare professionals to report suspected prenatal drug use,
and require healthcare professional to test newborns for prenatal drug exposure when
there is suspicion of prenatal drug abuse: IA and
I have worked with drug addicted babies too and feelingcrazier is absolutely right. A baby who has been exposed to opiates in utero WILL withdrawl: plain and simple. She is being honest about the symptoms and treatment.
Chulla4444: You ABSOLUTELY must come clean to your doctors so they know what to expect and can manage your baby the best way they can. There is no shame in honesty. You will be doing a wonderful thing for your baby.
Chulla4444: You ABSOLUTELY must come clean to your doctors so they know what to expect and can manage your baby the best way they can. There is no shame in honesty. You will be doing a wonderful thing for your baby.
um...i just pmd feelingcrazier and she says she's been through all this.......and I don't think she was trying to scare anyone....but i'm sure that if she works with addicted newborns she knows quite a bit as an rn. and i'm also sure that she was not trying to scare anyone......she simply tried to stress the importance of dealing with this. because no matter HOW you sugar coat it....IT IS serious...and no where did i see her write a treatment plan...obviously the person asking for advice here will go to her OWN physician who knows HER history and can treat her ACCORDINGLY.....geeze....everyone is so damn sensitive....feelingcrazier...i admire your posts...they are very refreshing and no b/s....they are what they should be...and i
ve also seen posts where you have been extra supportvie and compassionate......so i tip my hat to you...keep posting and don't worry about what others write .....your doing awesome...
ve also seen posts where you have been extra supportvie and compassionate......so i tip my hat to you...keep posting and don't worry about what others write .....your doing awesome...
Oh....and I would never be offended if someone shared what they knew from THEIR experiences.
That's why, above all the advice anyone can give here....the OP will hopefully get with her OWN physician who knows HER, her HISTORY, and can treat her accordingly.
And, yes, EVERY situation is unique for sure.
That's why, above all the advice anyone can give here....the OP will hopefully get with her OWN physician who knows HER, her HISTORY, and can treat her accordingly.
And, yes, EVERY situation is unique for sure.
Just a note....while I may be a nurse, admittedly, I know very little about actual OB nursing...I would never pretend otherwise, and while I'm sure there HAVE been people on Sub in certain situations, I just know that it is classified as being unsafe to take during pregnancy.
That's all I meant, and I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. I surely wasn't trying to insinuate I knew more than someone else.
That's all I meant, and I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. I surely wasn't trying to insinuate I knew more than someone else.
I dont think Lisa was disregarding what you are saying or the experience you have in your field- which is, clinically, far more than any of us have here.
However, I would like to note that many medical professionals only have the ability to observe addiction- Not the personal experience and emotion behind them- to educate people on what to expect. My own OBGYN sort of wrote off the WD's I was afraid of having- she basically said that it is a small amount of discomfort for about 2 days but then everything would be fine- I know from personal experience that is bull. I had to tell her what really happened, and she believed me- she saw my apprehension and my fear, and our program to get me off of pills changed because she had the ability to recognize that everyone is different- there is no text book definition for pregnancy and babies going through withdrawal.
No two cases are alike, which is why it is so imperative to leave the horror stories OFF of this forum.... It just does NOT help an expecting mother! I experienced that when I first came here- it worried me sick, until I talked to my doctor and she brought me back down to reality, and I realized that the majority of the withdrawal cases you and some others have quoted, are extreme cases. Extreme is not the norm. It will only make her feel guilty and terrified that her baby will suffer. Thats not positive- and I'm sure it's not what your intentions are. Or maybe they are your intentions, I dont know.
So, I'm not saying that you have no right to offer advice just because you haven't personally experienced being pregnant and addicted- but what I will say is that quoting a medical book on the extreme end of babies experiencing withdrawal is just not helpful. Most of the time, empathy, compassion, and having first hand experience with it provides the person seeking help a feeling that they are being validated and understood- Which is ALL the person is looking for in the first place.... I dont think she came here for various statistics and horrid withdrawal stories you have witnessed.
In this forum, lets keep the fear mongering and extreme cases in check. They are not neccessary. Not at all helpful. Just my .02 on the matter.. Being an addict and pregnant is nothing that I would wish on anyone. It already makes you feel like a terrible person. There is no need to exacerbate that feeling.
However, I would like to note that many medical professionals only have the ability to observe addiction- Not the personal experience and emotion behind them- to educate people on what to expect. My own OBGYN sort of wrote off the WD's I was afraid of having- she basically said that it is a small amount of discomfort for about 2 days but then everything would be fine- I know from personal experience that is bull. I had to tell her what really happened, and she believed me- she saw my apprehension and my fear, and our program to get me off of pills changed because she had the ability to recognize that everyone is different- there is no text book definition for pregnancy and babies going through withdrawal.
No two cases are alike, which is why it is so imperative to leave the horror stories OFF of this forum.... It just does NOT help an expecting mother! I experienced that when I first came here- it worried me sick, until I talked to my doctor and she brought me back down to reality, and I realized that the majority of the withdrawal cases you and some others have quoted, are extreme cases. Extreme is not the norm. It will only make her feel guilty and terrified that her baby will suffer. Thats not positive- and I'm sure it's not what your intentions are. Or maybe they are your intentions, I dont know.
So, I'm not saying that you have no right to offer advice just because you haven't personally experienced being pregnant and addicted- but what I will say is that quoting a medical book on the extreme end of babies experiencing withdrawal is just not helpful. Most of the time, empathy, compassion, and having first hand experience with it provides the person seeking help a feeling that they are being validated and understood- Which is ALL the person is looking for in the first place.... I dont think she came here for various statistics and horrid withdrawal stories you have witnessed.
In this forum, lets keep the fear mongering and extreme cases in check. They are not neccessary. Not at all helpful. Just my .02 on the matter.. Being an addict and pregnant is nothing that I would wish on anyone. It already makes you feel like a terrible person. There is no need to exacerbate that feeling.
I would just like to ask that people stop assuming about who is more or less experienced than others. I'm here to offer advice. And for the record work as an RN for a new born nursery where we have a one-of-a-kind, model program that provides specialized, 24-hour care for drug-exposed and medically fragile newborns. Our doctors and staff bring babies safely through withdrawal from drugs, including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, methadone, and prescription drugs. So please don't look down upon anyone unless your helping them up Lisa....(couldn't help myself.)
no disrespect to anyone, however my doctor who is an addiction specialist, has told me personally that he has treated pregnant women with subutex. He was surgeon, is a recovering alcoholic thus, very sympathetic, towards addicts,he ran the methadone clinic in Cleveland, was offered a position as chief of staff at our current hospital, but bowed out instead and took a position as director in our recovery program. he cares for the inpatient and outpatient programs. I obviously respect him very much, because he took a job with less prestige not to mention the money, because he wanted to give back, like they teach us to do in NA/AA anyways, he says that the sub worked better than the methadone with mininal to no discomfort to the infants.
Just an FYI----Sub is contraindicated for use in pregnancy. So, that wouldn't be an option.
You've received excellent advice.....I wish you and your baby the best!
You've received excellent advice.....I wish you and your baby the best!
I agree with seeksolice, dont worry about the wds ur baby will experience yet, everybody is different. there is no textbook mandatory thinggie that describes each and every case.In my situation I started at 30 mgs of methadone. I wanted to stay at the lowest mgs possible. When he was born i was at 26mgs. My baby had the shakes as soon as he was born.Other than that he seemed fine. We kept him wrapped up like a little tamale and that seemed to calm him, plus they prescribed phenobarbital. So please dont get scared... well too late for that huh? I see my sub doc thursday, i will ask him a few questions, like if babies go thru wds from sub. I also have to mention that while attending the methadone clinic i made a few friends a couple of pregnant girls. One had her baby at 60 mgs and her baby didnt have any wds. So please dont let well read people with no personal experience regarding this scare you. I will let you know what i find out thursday, but please think about coming clean to your doc.
Honesty is definitely the key here.
I'm in the same boat but I came clean with my doctor. Once you can be honest, you will feel a HUGE weight lifted off your shoulders.
The most important part is to take care of YOU. The doctors will not chastise you for whats happening- if these are prescribed meds, they see this all the time.
CPS will not be involved unless you are not getting prescriptions for your meds and your baby suffers notable withdrawal. What the doctor will do when you tell him/her is slowly taper you to a dose that you are comfortable with in order to avoid withdrawal. Typically, they will wait a few months post partem to wean you off completely because the relapse risk is the highest right after you have the child.
You are a good person- remember that. Dont let the guilt eat you alive. And dont worry about the withdrawal symptoms your child could experience- because not all babies suffer withdrawal.. Worrying about the WD's will only freak you out and scare you and you dont need that right now. Just be honest with the doc and they will give you the care you need.
I'm in the same boat but I came clean with my doctor. Once you can be honest, you will feel a HUGE weight lifted off your shoulders.
The most important part is to take care of YOU. The doctors will not chastise you for whats happening- if these are prescribed meds, they see this all the time.
CPS will not be involved unless you are not getting prescriptions for your meds and your baby suffers notable withdrawal. What the doctor will do when you tell him/her is slowly taper you to a dose that you are comfortable with in order to avoid withdrawal. Typically, they will wait a few months post partem to wean you off completely because the relapse risk is the highest right after you have the child.
You are a good person- remember that. Dont let the guilt eat you alive. And dont worry about the withdrawal symptoms your child could experience- because not all babies suffer withdrawal.. Worrying about the WD's will only freak you out and scare you and you dont need that right now. Just be honest with the doc and they will give you the care you need.
Subutex. Come clean with your doc. IF they find any drugs not recorded in your file during anytime where you claimed you were NOT, it becomes a case for CPS and your at risk for losing your baby. Honesty truly is the key here. THey may also place you on methadone for the time being....if that's the case here is what will most likely happen....within 24 to 48 hours after birth, the baby exposed to opiates will begin to show signs of withdrawal: Frantic movements, sweaty, high-pitched cry, tremors, an inability to sleep or suck on a bottle, fast breathing, increased heart rate and loose stools. It is possible to see sweating and more gastric problems also. All of these symptoms are more likely to be more severe in a methadone-exposed infant, which may cause a baby to require administration of prescribed narcotic drugs (morphine). The use of prescribed drugs for the baby will need to be determined within the first two weeks of the baby’s life. The symptoms of withdrawal must be closely monitored to know if the use of therapeutic techniques needs to be supplemented by medication. Prescribed meds MUST be administered by a clinic or hospital. The use of therapeutic handling techniques is essential to the safe and successful withdrawal of a baby exposed to opiates. It is also very important to reduce his environmental stimulus. This will help the baby to be more comfortable and to stay calm. In addition, because of all of the disorganized physical activity seen in these babies, his need for a diet high in calories to replace those he is quickly burning off, is very important. The onset of withdrawals this baby may require more frequent feeds—every three hours instead of four, but care must be taken to avoid over-feeding. Before the baby is stabilized on his medication you may possibly see an increased number of stools, which may be liquid, indicating internal withdrawal. These stools can be explosive and may contain blood. The stool’s acidity will quickly burn the buttocks. Immediate diaper changes are required. There are nurses and doctors who cater to all of these things 24 hours a day. Please let them help you.
Hi chula,are you still on all your meds? I just noticed that your first post was on the 7th. cause you really need to come clean to your doc. 12 yrs ago i was really addicted to heroin, i found out at 4mths that i was pregnant, since cold turkey was not an option because of the risk of losing my baby, i was put on methadone, but now they have something safer which is suboxone or in your case maybe subutex. My doctor says that he has had much success with treating pregnant women with it. i guess you really have to weight out your options, being that you still have pain issues. normally i wouldnt recommend these drugs only as a very last recourse, unless of course your doctor thinks they can safely taper you, however there will still be the pain issue, right? I just cant stress the importance of you being honest with your doctor, that way they can be prepared in case their are any complications with your baby. My son was born addicted to methadone, so the doctors had to be prepared. As soon as he came out he was shaking, it broke my heart and still does thinking about it. So please whatever you decide, take the proper precautions to insure your babys well being.
yeah, that is part of what some folks feel. i felt it too. i told my doctor, and he told me to take it for about another week or so, and i was on the lowest dose, it finally stopped after three weeks of taking it. i was not goin crazy, but i would get ugly thoughts in my head like, "i wonder how my boss would react if i came in to work and started slapping him with a dead opposum!" **** like that, it was really strange. It went away, i think doctors need to know how bad you are feeling while first taking it, and then they can decide to change it.
to my surprise, nueronting is one of the most popular pain management drug out there!!! i am not working right now, i am on WC and i ended u pregnant, so i am very worried. although my doctors are monitoring me, i want to get off as much medication before the baby is born!!! and i was an editor/proofreader/writer. well, not anymore, i gotta look for a new job now.
to my surprise, nueronting is one of the most popular pain management drug out there!!! i am not working right now, i am on WC and i ended u pregnant, so i am very worried. although my doctors are monitoring me, i want to get off as much medication before the baby is born!!! and i was an editor/proofreader/writer. well, not anymore, i gotta look for a new job now.
I took that gabapentin for like one week and it made me a crazy person. Not sure what is in it but i do know there are cases pending for suicides from it. people who were bi-polar taking it commited suicide.
Are you working? Your carpal tunnel will not get better if you are. well, i guess it depends on the type of work.
Are you working? Your carpal tunnel will not get better if you are. well, i guess it depends on the type of work.
Well,
I have been honest, but i actually am physically addicted to the Nuerontin too! I was on about 600 mg a day, then went to 1000 as rx'd by my doctor because of my nerve pain, then to to 1300, next thing i know, I'm breaking in swaets, getting shaky, restless, not able to function at work until I would take another 100 mg. Then it turned into 1800mg not 3000 (sorry) I know i stated that earlier. but either case, that is still high. so basically, my nerve pain is so bad unless i take the nuerontin, and oxycodone. oxycodone just started taking last month 30mg every 4 hrs. because i ended up in the ER from how bad my pain was. before the oxy was rx'd, i was on hydrocodine 10/325mg every 4-6 hrs (2 pills), but that was not cutting it until the doc changed it to oxy. the soma was given witht he tight soft tissue tightness, sharp stabbing pins in my shoulders, muscle pain in my lower neck, back, arms, under arms, and under my ribs. i started with one every 6 hrs, then they rx'd to 2 pills every 6 hrs. then my doctor told me to taper off in 1 week, and i tried, but i was miserable. i felt physically exhausted, tired, moody, i ended up with the runs, bad abdominal pain, my whole body hurt, and my nose kept running/dripping water. I had zero energy. i could not ge up, i felt so weak like i was going to die.
so i could not take it, and i got back on it. (i'm sobbing as I type this). it's not fair to my little angel that i have to take all this ****. i would rather go through rehab, get off all of them within a month, so my baby won't be so darn addicted when she is born. oh god, i feel awful, and no one in my family knows how much this bothers me. i see my doctor this friday, and i'm considering asking her to put me in a program before my angel is born because i feel so guilty that I'm too weak to get off of them myself. i just don't know what to do anymore. i know my hands will become severly numb, but what am i supposed to do? thank for listening.
I have been honest, but i actually am physically addicted to the Nuerontin too! I was on about 600 mg a day, then went to 1000 as rx'd by my doctor because of my nerve pain, then to to 1300, next thing i know, I'm breaking in swaets, getting shaky, restless, not able to function at work until I would take another 100 mg. Then it turned into 1800mg not 3000 (sorry) I know i stated that earlier. but either case, that is still high. so basically, my nerve pain is so bad unless i take the nuerontin, and oxycodone. oxycodone just started taking last month 30mg every 4 hrs. because i ended up in the ER from how bad my pain was. before the oxy was rx'd, i was on hydrocodine 10/325mg every 4-6 hrs (2 pills), but that was not cutting it until the doc changed it to oxy. the soma was given witht he tight soft tissue tightness, sharp stabbing pins in my shoulders, muscle pain in my lower neck, back, arms, under arms, and under my ribs. i started with one every 6 hrs, then they rx'd to 2 pills every 6 hrs. then my doctor told me to taper off in 1 week, and i tried, but i was miserable. i felt physically exhausted, tired, moody, i ended up with the runs, bad abdominal pain, my whole body hurt, and my nose kept running/dripping water. I had zero energy. i could not ge up, i felt so weak like i was going to die.
so i could not take it, and i got back on it. (i'm sobbing as I type this). it's not fair to my little angel that i have to take all this ****. i would rather go through rehab, get off all of them within a month, so my baby won't be so darn addicted when she is born. oh god, i feel awful, and no one in my family knows how much this bothers me. i see my doctor this friday, and i'm considering asking her to put me in a program before my angel is born because i feel so guilty that I'm too weak to get off of them myself. i just don't know what to do anymore. i know my hands will become severly numb, but what am i supposed to do? thank for listening.
Soma has to be slowly tapered...how many do u take each day? 100 mg oxy plu 15 when needed...how many 15 mg pills do u take each day....that is a large dose of nurontin...my scrip is for 900 mg a day but i usually take 300.....not heard of any severe wd from that drug...does it help any/i was given lyrica and will switch back as i am unable to tolerate the lyrica..when with child..all meds should be tapered...betterthan life can help u..be honest with ur doctor for ur baby's sake and get her/him the help needed
thank you! so much. i'm so scared. and i just need to know what to do and how to go about it. i'm so saddened to think she will suffere withdrawls and how long will it take.
thnks again, i'm so glad i found this place!
thnks again, i'm so glad i found this place!
Honey,you need to be completely honest with your doctor about everything.Making any attempt to do this on your own without the help of your doctor can be very dangerous to your baby and you as well.There is an ob gyn nurse here,1234betterlife,I will send her a pm and ask her to pm you asap.She helps many women here that are in a similar situation as yourself.Please,unless you consult with your doctor,don't do anything until you have spoken with her.She is usually pretty quick about getting back to people.Again,my overall opinion is that you need to be totally honest with your ob doctor about everything and let them be the deciding factor on what you should do and how you should do it.Sweetie,I know it's hard,but you and your babies well being depends on you telling your doctor everything and letting them help you.I will pm betterlife for you.Hang in there.........Peace.............Kim
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