Hydrocodone and Pregnancy...

I really hope that noone thinks bad of me....but I've been taking hydrocodone for about a year now. I've just recently found out that I'm pregnant, and I'm worried because I want to stop taking it, but I'm finding it hard to do cold turkey. I'm doing good tho, I went from 3-4 a day to sometimes 1 or just a half a day. I've recently cut down to a half of a half a day, but sometimes I need more because of back pain. I'm now 13 weeks pregnant, I just want to know is this hurting my baby? And does anyone have ANY advice on how to stop taking this medicine? I want to so bad. I've been trying for this for so long (4 years) and now that I am pregnant, I feel selfish because I can't stop taking a...well...a drug. Am I wrong?

[AndiJ78]

Consult your doctor, no one on the Internet should be giving you advice on this topic.

Good luck.

[hanacabana]

Definitely just talk to your doctor ASAP. Be COMPLETELY honest with him. Before you have got real, medical advise i would strongly advise against quiting 'cold turkey' by yourself. Because you have been using for such a long time your body (and the babies body) may have beome reliant on it so a quick pull away can risk your body not adapting. Your doctor should be able to recomand a safe or atleast a safer path.

[jenstam]

Your name indicates that you were trying to get pregnant. Obviously, you should have planned ahead for this. The doctor that is prescribing this medication should no longer be writing the prescription but instead writing a better alternative for you during pregnancy for your back pain. No, it's not a good thing to be addicted to any drug, legal or not during pregnancy or any other time. Please be honest with your doctor and have a plan to discontinue the drug. This is your child. Being a parent is a selfless thing. It's not about just you anymore, it's about your child. Good luck.

[spade22]

I agree with the others - consult with your doctor for an appropriate tapering regime.

Hydrocodone is a class D drug which means positive evidence exists to show that it can cause fetal damage.  For this reason hydrocodone should NOT be taken during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary.

[AndiJ78]

Actually it is a Class C, but it is still not something you should be taking daily during pregnancy.

[kellym]

Hmmm but isn't that what they gave me after my c-section and nursing??  Anyhow, shouldn't be a problem talking to your dr. if it was for back pain it was prescribed right?

[ImmortalOne]

Yes you want to talk to your doctor.  It can cause a lot of complications with the baby and the baby will need to be monitored.  

[erin94062]

i dont think anyone on here has any right to judge you at all... if you wanted to get pregnant that is YOUR choice, and i have a 14month old and the prescribed me to take vicodin during my pregnancy and my baby is gorgeous and extremely advanced in al of her milestones.... she didn't have ANYTHING wrong with her when she was born, and all of the nurses actually kept telling me how perfect her skin color was.... and after my c-sectiont they gave me NORCOS while i was breastfeed, and she is STILL fine... i am pregnant again and still taking vicodin as prescribed... my dr. knew i was taking them BEFORE  i got pregnant and i discussed it with him and my OB gyn and they BOTH said it was ok and that i can go ahead and try for another one... and i am NOT addicted to them... i take the as prescribed when i NEED them for pain.... and BTW the are CLASS C....  good luck to you and your baby... and if i were you i would listen to your dr. and not ppl on the internet...

[AACM4]

I am 33 weeks pregnant and for the first time out of 3 pregnancies I have abused Lortab.. I'd say Lortab 10-3x's a day- I am so afraid and truly scared that my baby will have a neuro-disorder or other complications--I have stopped taking them all together-- yes my dr the passed two months gave me Lortab .5   I'm not looking for excuses and I know it's wrong. I'm soo scAred that my baby won't b ok.  I'm loosing sleep over the worry I have for my baby -- I worked throughout entire pregnancy and took care of my other 3 children-- I just want to hear some advice please!!!

[AACM4]

I am 33 weeks pregnant and for the first time out of 3 pregnancies I have abused Lortab.. I'd say Lortab 10-3x's a day- I am so afraid and truly scared that my baby will have a neuro-disorder or other complications--I have stopped taking them all together-- yes my dr the passed two months gave me Lortab .5   I'm not looking for excuses and I know it's wrong. I'm soo scAred that my baby won't b ok.  I'm loosing sleep over the worry I have for my baby -- I worked throughout entire pregnancy and took care of my other 3 children-- I just want to hear some advice please!!!