subutex

[browneyegrl82]

im 25 weeks pregnant been on opiates for 14 years now i cant ever seem to kick the habit. i was on suboxone before finding out i was expecting ,3 film strips a day. my doctor changed me to subutex saying it was safer for the baby is it? i have tapered myself down to one 8mg tablet a day but cant seem to go any lower than that right now &not sure if i should not wanting to put baby in withdrawals. i feel like such a bad mother ,my question is with me taking less &hopefully closer to my due date i will be down to a half or hopefully just a quarter will my baby experience withdrawals after birth?? im one worried mother!!

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Your doctor did the right thing. Subutex is a much safer drug during pregnancy then Suboxone and certainly safer than methadone.  
It would be best for both you and the baby to be gently tapered off of Subutex while you are still pregnant, so that you are both drug free by the time of the delivery and your baby will not need to go through any withdrawals at all.  Even though babies have been safely delivered to mothers taking Subutex and nursed by those mothers while on Subutex, I still strongly believe, that it would be better for both of you to be drug free at the time of delivery.  
I understand that you may have some discomfort while tapering the Subutex,  you do have to do it gently. The last taper should be titrated slowly, down to 0.5mg/day, then 0.25mg and if you are still uncomfortable stopping there, half of that.
It is possible to have a baby while on Subutex, but depending on the dose, there is a likelihood that baby may experience withdrawals , especially if you do not breastfeed.  If you do breastfeed on Subutex, baby will be tapered slowly from it as it weens from the breast.
Otherwize, withdrawals from Subutex are very unpleasant and may keep the baby in the NICU and away from your loving arms for many days.
I suggest that you read my blog on pregnancy and addiction that talks more about it. Click on my name in blue and then "blogs".  
Good luck to you and make sure you discuss all of this with your OB. They must be in the loop on all your medical care.

[browneyegrl82]

thank you so much,knowing that does make me feel nuch better.

[Sammie85]

I had my son in April of 2013 and for the duration of my pregnancy I was only taking 3/4 of a 8mg strip. My son was born with withdrawals but they were slim to none and he didn't require extensive care from the nicu like most babies born to suboxone withdrawal. Your baby will likely experience some withdrawal but they monitor closely and make sure that they don't suffer. Just remember to not be to hard on yourself your doing the best you can