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Avatar universal

pregnant and taking hydrocodone

I am 5.5 months pregnant and being prescribed hydrocodone by my OB for a herniated disc in my neck. I have been taking them for about 2 months now - 4 10's a day sometimes more. I'm afraid to keep taking them for my bany's sake and I don't want my baby or I to be addicted. I've tried to go cold turkey and was shocked at how horrible I felt after.I have to say I didn't intentionally do this, my doctor messed up the qty when sending a refill and I ran out two days before my next refill. I mentioned how I was feeling to my doctor and he encouraged me to call a GP and get in to see them asap so we could figure out another plan for managing my neck pain. I specifically asked him how do I wean off of these things and he said just call a GP and we'll go from there. So I'm hoping someone here can give me suggestions because I can't take cold turkey and I'm worried about my baby so I want to stop sooner rather than later. It will take me another three weeks to see a GP I don't want to wait. I'm writing this from my cell phone in an epsom salt bath, I can't move my muscles if I'm anywhere but here, please help me!!!
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1684282 tn?1614701284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am so glad. Thank you for  letting me know.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your much needed response!! I am doing much better, still waiting for a GP appt. but am feeling much better and am on the right path now, thank you so much for your advice :)
Helpful - 0
1684282 tn?1614701284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Unfortunately your OB didn't do you any favors by "treating" your cervical radiculopathy (neck pain) with narcotic medications. You should have been sent to see a pain specialist who could have evaluated you and possibly given you a cervical epidural steroid injection which may have alleviated your pain.  You can also have taken NSAIDs like Motrin and Advil during the first two trimesters of pregnancy.
But now you are dealing with addiction that needs to be resolved before you deliver  your baby.  To taper  the hydrocodone you need to start to space the pills to longer intervals, then cut them in half taking them at longer intervals until you take only half  in the morning and one at night, then half in the morning and half at night, then only at night until you take non at all. The baby will gradually withdraw with you without any problems. If you do it over a few weeks time it should not be too terrible, but you will have some discomfort. You will just have to bear with it. Once you are off the pills which I assume contain acetaminophen, you can take Tylenol for pain. GP may not know which meds are OK during pregnancy so please be careful. Please DO NOT start taking tramadol/Ultram if they try giving it to you since they are also opiates and also will cause you baby to be in withdrawals when it is born. (See my  blog on tramadol if you are interested). Well, continue to take baths, stretch and try to move as much as possible and   see a pain doctor who does cervical epidural shots.  They can be very helpful! Good luck and feel free to come if you have more questions.
Helpful - 0

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