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20 weeks pregnant & addicted to fioricet
I am 20 weeks pregnant and have been taking the drug fioricet, (without codeine) for far too many years. It has recently gotten significantly worse & on a really bad day, will currently take up to 15-20 pills a day. I have 4 children as of now & this will be my 5th. I take it for my migraines that I was diagnosed with over 10 years ago but now I'm taking it not only for migraines, but because I feel as though it helps me to get my tasks done during the day as I am a stay at home mother. This question is obvious I'm sure but I really need to know the risk to me & my unborn child. Thank you!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The fact that you are writing to me must mean that you want to keep this pregnancy, but at 20 weeks I would be very worried about both you and the baby. Taken at usual doses, Fioricet is a relatively benign medication even during pregnancy. However, you have been taking 5 times the maximum dose recommended. So, if it says that the "Black Box" warning says that taking over 4000 mg a day of acetaminophen which is contained in this drug will lead to liver toxicity, you take almost 2 times that every day.
Now this medication also contains caffeine, a substance most pregnant women try to minimize. But you take enough of eat to equal drinking 15 cups of coffee every day.
You say that it keeps you going, but at what price? You need to talk to your OB and discuss how you are going to get off the caffeine and the butalbital part of this stuff without bad headaches. You need to stop the acetaminophen now! And your liver function needs to be checked. The OB will need to decide what needs to be told to neonantologist (the baby doctor) so that the baby can be checked immediately after being born.
So the first step is to stop taking this stuff and the second is to call the OB asap and make an emergency appointment to discuss all of this.
You owe this not only to your unborn child but also to the children you are taking care of now. They deserve you to be healthy and take care of yourself both body and spirit, so you can be there for them for many more years. Good luck and stay well.
Now this medication also contains caffeine, a substance most pregnant women try to minimize. But you take enough of eat to equal drinking 15 cups of coffee every day.
You say that it keeps you going, but at what price? You need to talk to your OB and discuss how you are going to get off the caffeine and the butalbital part of this stuff without bad headaches. You need to stop the acetaminophen now! And your liver function needs to be checked. The OB will need to decide what needs to be told to neonantologist (the baby doctor) so that the baby can be checked immediately after being born.
So the first step is to stop taking this stuff and the second is to call the OB asap and make an emergency appointment to discuss all of this.
You owe this not only to your unborn child but also to the children you are taking care of now. They deserve you to be healthy and take care of yourself both body and spirit, so you can be there for them for many more years. Good luck and stay well.
Can anyone help?? I'm new to this site & was wondering how long it takes for my question to be answered & if actual doctors answer your questions.
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