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Pain Pills and pregnancy,,,,

Hi all! Im a newbie to this forum and this is my first post, Just happened to stumble upon it, hoping for some words of wisdom. Well I had a baby 22 months ago, during the labor, i had complications with the epidural as it was placed 5 seperate times before it was actually right. (Nightmare, I know) Well since then, I have had severe back problems. I was put on vicodin, then percocet now oxycodone (which is not as strong as oxycontin). Well Ive been on these darn pills for 22 months now and my body has created a dependance on them. If I miss a dose, my body cramps, I get cold sweats, I have horrific w/d! Well, I just found out 3 days ago that Im pregnant again! Lord's blessing in disguise, I take it! Well, Im scared of the effects of the pills on the baby. My first appointment isnt until the end of January! As of 3 days ago, Ive tried to cut my dosage down a little, and am doing well with that. I am trying to taper down until Im at a very low dose and hope, REALLY hope and pray that I dont have too much w/d and hopefully get off of these darn pills. My body really gets terribly sick when I dont have one. Im soooooo scared! Any one out there go through this? Please any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
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331213 tn?1217164831
Oxycodone is actually the same thing as Percocet. Oxycodone IS percocet. I too have back and neck problems (sciatica, ruptured discs, herniated discs, pinched nerves in my neck - amongst other problems) and have been having to take vicodin and percocet for the past few years. I was to the point when I found out that I'm pregnant that I would go through withdrawls if I didn't have one. I wasn't addicted - I was dependant. I am almost into my second trimester and I still have my moments and my days where I can't seem to function properly, so I take half of a vicodin 5 and believe it or not, I'm fine. While it is okay to take these drugs during pregnancy, the drug was beginning to run my life before and getting pregnant was a God send in so many different ways - I take them now and if I don't eat or if I take more than a half I get physically sick.

As for the baby developing a dependancy on it, I talked to my OB about this and she said definitely NOT to quit cold turkey, especially in your first trimester. Your baby is a part of your body now - imagine your 7 week old fetus having to go through what you do when you don't have a pill. The best way to make sure the baby doesn't detox is to slowly ween yourself off at the end of your second trimester/beginning of your third. I know tons of women dealing with the same problems as us and their babies have come out perfectly fine and normal. A friend of mine is actually 8 months pregnant with a child she's been taking morphine with the entire time - she has a chronic illness and her baby has measured several weeks ahead since the beginning of her second trimester - her dr is very pleased with her and her baby's health.

It is safe to cut back, so long as you don't miss a day without one completely. Try what I did - try taking half at a time and if it doesn't help, take the other half. I was surprised at how well this worked for me. The DAY I found out, I cut down to half a day and I can honestly say that while I still have my moments, I haven't felt this good in a very, very long time.  

I really wish you luck. If you ever need to talk, just email me and I will be there for you. Congratulations on your BFP.
Helpful - 0
350664 tn?1322826001
Oxycodone is a pregnancy category B. Which means no adverse effects in animals, no human studies available. This drug is much better than a category C, D, or X. So I wouldn't worry too much but definitly taper down. However this drug does cross the placenta so I think the main concern would be for the baby to develop a dependence on it. Just decrease the pills slowly so as to not trigger withdrawl symptoms which could be more stressful on the baby in the longrun.
Helpful - 0
303706 tn?1296876149
I just read that Oxycodone can pass into breast milk and can harm a nursing baby. But that's all it really said...
Helpful - 0
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