Taking suboxone while pregnant

[juneblaze09]

Hello,
      I just found out yesterday that i am pregnant. I haven't been to the DR yet but I know i have to at least be 10-12 weeks. I am currently taking about 2mgs a day of suboxone. And over the last 3 months i have been from 4mgs to 2mgs a day on it as well. I am really nervous... I have been doing alot of research about this and there are alot of people who say its fine and their babies were fine...then theres alot who say it isn't ok. Can someone please help me......Thank you...

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

June,
Ok, you got to get control of this situation and quick. First, you must realize that you are not the only one in this predicament. We get this question on this forum over and over again from wonderful caring women who want to have healthy babies. Second, you must talk to your OB/GYN. if you don't have one, find one.  A midwife group is maybe even better.  They treat many women in exactly the same situation and will be able to refer you to a physician who will be abe to manage you on Suboxone or Subutex and will over a few months taper you off. Methadone is not better than Suboxone or Subutex during pregnancy and please do not go to one of those clinics! Hopefully before your third trimester you will be drug free and happily looking forward to a birth a healthy baby.  You need to quit smoking as well, because it leads to decreased baby weight and higher incidence of early labor.
Suboxone and Subutex are both commonly used medication to help pregnant addicts stop using and have been found safe to use in pregnancy to help mom stop her addiction.  It is certainly far safer than continuing to use the narcotics.  Please see you doctor or midwife ASAP.  

[juneblaze09]

Julia,
      I actually haven't had health insurance for a while now...so I have been getting the suboxone from a friend. I know it's wrong but I feel it was better than self medicating with pain pills! I am nervous about telling my doctor... I know I should but I just don't want any problems because of my mistakes... I would like to get off suboxone without harming the baby. I know withdrawls are not good for the baby either so I really just don't know what to do... I am so upset with this situation... it's horrible... would it be safer to ween off with pain pills? I am just worried about taking the suboxone because many people have said subutex is usually given to pregnant women because it has no naloxone in it... I am confused. Why do some people say it's ok to take suboxone while pregnant and some same it's really bad? You do work with this drug don't you? I'm only asking because I also called a random suboxone doctor's office recently and a nurse spoke to me and told me it's horrible mainly because of the naloxone and that I should go to a methadone clinic right away because I am harming my baby. I honestly do not feel comfortable taking methadone nor going to the clinic... I'm sorry if I am a bother to you... it just seems like you have been the only one to help me so far and I am very grateful of that. Thankyou so much for taking your time to answer my questions... you are a great person!! Thank you so much!!

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

June,
The doc who is writing the suboxone for you should be able to guide you through relatively quick tapering.  Naloxone is nor dangerous for the baby.  The opioid part of the suboxone is.  I would not worry about it too much as long as you are steadily tapering down. If your suboxone doc can not taper you, talk to you OB/GYN doctor.  They usually know someone who deals with just these kinds of situations (trust me, you are not alone in this).  As long as you are honest and open with you doctor they will do everything humanly possible to help you deliver a healthy baby.  And I already know that you are completely committed to doing what is necessary for that.  
Dr. Aharonov
www.mdsdrugdetox.com

[juneblaze09]

So what would you reccommend as far as weening myself off of the suboxone? Because i have also heard from many people that withdrawl symptoms are also not good for the baby?? I am not concerned about how I will feel. I will do whatever it takes to ween off and be clean as long as it won't harm the baby. What would be the safest way to go about this? I am at 2 mgs some days i even take a little less but feel the withdrawl symptoms somewhat... I just don't want to miscarry or harm the baby in any way. Why is it some people say it's ok for the baby and some say it's horrible because of the naloxone? Please any answers would be helpful and greatly appreciated!! Thank you so very much...I have been very stressed out about this...hope to hear back from you...

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

There are plenty of women in the same predicament as you are.  I assume you are on Suboxone tapering regimen to eventually get clean.  That is what your goal should be.  When you go to OB/GYN make sure that s/he is aware of ALL your medical issues, including Suboxone.  The tapering of Suboxone should proceed during pregnancy and will not be harmful to the baby, especially if you are off of it by the 3rd trimester, which should certainly be doable if you are seriously working on achieving that goal.  
I am sure you will make a terrific mom to a healthy baby! All the best to you
.