For a friend of mine!

[Tweety28]

Hi all, Well one of my friends have a question and I just couldnt answer it so I said I'd write and ask anyone here..She just found out she is around pregnant and she has been taking Lortab(a pain pill) for her back she said that she used to take 5 a day then she was feeling sick and remind you she didnt know she was pregnant and told the doctor that she was feeling sick and he said that she needs to cut her doseage so she started to take 1-2 a day and tylonal but she now found out she has been pregnant this whole time and she wants to know if ther is a huge chance the baby maybe affected so how?She seen a ultrasound and they told her everything is fine.Anybody have any answers?Oh Me and my pregnacy is doing well!!!!!!Cant wait for the next ultrasound get to see what the baby is....

[shelbert6]

This is Vicodin, which is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen.  This is a narcotic, and she should not take anymore, I'm sure she isn't.  I believe that baby should be monitored as the pregnancy progresses, but the big concern is with mother's who take this drug regularly throughout pregnancy.  In those cases, baby will suffer from withdrawl.  But stopping early like she has (hopefully) may not have a prolonged effect.  Mother's who take this drug during labor can have babies with respiratory depression.  There is always a chance, no matter how slim, that baby may have problems, but stopping early greatly decreases those chances.  She should also discuss this in detail with her dr.  This is the same kind of situation with women who do not know they are pregnant and consume alcohol early in pregnancy.  This creates a risk.  But, after finding that you are pregnant, no longer drinking alcohol decreases that risk.

Regards,
Shelly

[Tweety28]

Thank you shelly I will tell her.I have told her and she said that she has stopped but she is already 4 months and worried for what has already happened.

[skd7474]

I just want to let you know it is ok to take Lortab while you are pregnant. I had to take it the whole time I was pregnant.

[HopeinAl]

lortab does not cross the placenta, it's safe.

[kirsten00]

My doc prescribed lortab while I was pregnant.  I'd just be sure and check on the dosages.  kirsten

[shelbert6]

After reading my post again, in hind sight, maybe I should not have told her to quit taking the drug without first consulting with her Dr.  I am a big advocate of checking with your dr. before stopping or changing meds.  However, Vicodin is a narcotic and a Pregnancy Category C drug and sometimes listed as Category C&D.  Category C means not enough human study has been done to be sure of risks.  Category D means risks have been proven.  It is only taken under strict supervision of the Dr. and only if the benefit outweighs the potential fetal risks.  These factors can only be determined by the Dr. in cooperation with the patient.  Vicodin is an opioid, and no narcotic is "safe" to take during pregnancy.  Vicodin may, however, be prescribed by a dr. during pregnancy when the benefits outweigh the risks, but that still doesn't make it "safe".  Safe means no risks involved.  Vicodin is not "safe".  For those of you who took Vicodin while pregnant did so under strict supervision of your Dr.  Tweety's friend did not.  She took the drug at a near max. dose for 4 mos. of a pregnancy that she was unaware of.

Respectfully,
Shelly

[HopeinAl]

ummm well I didn't know she was taking vicodin. lortab is what she said, and when i was in nursing school we learned that lortab could be taken during pregancy. it's one of the few drugs that doesn't cross the placenta. Is lortab and vicodin the same thing??? maybe so. anyway i agree should pick uo the phone and call the Doc. Hope

[shelbert6]

Yes, Lortab is Vicodin.  Brand names for Hydrocodone.  But I used Vicodin because I think more people can associate with that name.

Regards,
Shelly

P.S.  I hope my most recent post didn't sound nasty.  It certainly wasn't meant to be.  Hard to write matter-of-fact info with "expression", so to speak.  :)

[HopeinAl]

Oh no, you didn't sound nasty at all. I'm not easily offended anyway. besides this all good info. we all need it!! take care and God bless. Hope

[britt73]

I am 2 months pregnant and my doc,. has prescribed me lortab for some dentistry work i had done.......I was also told lortab  does not reach the placenta.........now after reading what u guys wrote im concerned