Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

30 Weeks pregnant addicted to percocet.....

I am so embarrassed that I have gotten this far and am just now seeking advice.....well I have gotten some advice from my doctors but I am having a hard time figuring out what to do.....SO here is my situation. Before I got pregnant, I was on all sorts of medication to include, ativan, adderall, trazadone, ambien and percocet. I was taking 80-100 mg (sometimes more) of percocet a day for chronic back pain. When I found out I was pregnant, I quit taking or tried to quit taking everything or as low of a dose as possible, however, the withdrawals were too much. So, I talked to my OBGYN and he said, just try to ween yourself off. This has been a difficult challenge because on top of the back pain I now have pregnancy induced sciatica that causes severe pain in my legs. I went to see my primary care physician and told him my problem. He said, we can keep you on the percocet and TRY to ween you off or we can put you on suboxene or methadone. I am so troubled and confused as to what to do. I dont want my baby to be addicted but I cant function without the meds. I HAVE to get up and work and take care of my 7 year old daughter. I had no idea I was so dependent on these medications until I tried to stop. Can anyone give me some suggestions. Which is better, suboxene, methadone, percocet, quit cold turkey? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
9 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
142722 tn?1281533616
It is way to dangerous for her to stop cold turkey, I tried also at 30 weeks and ended up in the ER due to tightness of my stomack. It can cause early labor and she doesn't need that right now, but I think if she can wean, but for more then a few days, and stop she should be ok.  A few days is not enough, the best thing is for her to go to the dr and have the dr come up with a weaning plan.  I tried like three times to wean and ended up just taking most of my pills that they gave me to wean with :(  So here I am at 35 weeks and on subutex, I didn't have to go through the w/d that would have been more harmful for the baby, I thought of my baby first and couldn't do that to her.  I wish I could have weaned, but I wasn' strong enough :(  Subutex was my next choice and it is working.
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
pk its not safe when you are pg you have to slow taper for the baby if not it can cause fetal distress miscarriage or preterm labor .She is going to have to come down slow but she can do it ...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey, I know first hand how hard it is to get off oxys and pain killers.  I used 2 to 3 80mgs oxys a day for over 2 years.  I moved back in with my dad and told him what all was going on.  We came up with a plan and he drove me out of town and i detoxed in a motel room for over a week.  I told god if he took me I wouldnt mind, I thought i was going to die from the pain.  I didnt eat, sleep or move for over 4 day's.  When I finally got up I asked my dad to drive me around and I just started crying!  I was embarrassed and didn't know how to react to actually feeling emotions again.  I quit because I knew if I didn't I would end up dieing from it.  Your pregnant!  I am a male and don't understand the emotional attachment compared to women with having children but I do know how hard it is to get off pills.  I would try and go down the lowest dose you could for a few day's and then just go cold turkey, as long as its safe for the baby.  I really think you will be able to do it!  I know it feels like the world is ending when going through w/d but think about a few months from now when you get to hold your baby and feel the world around you sober.  I think that feeling should make you strong enough to face the battle.  Good luck, If I can do it I know you will have no problem.
Helpful - 0
142722 tn?1281533616
BTW, I have a sechduled C-Section on May 11th, so you know I am scared to but I have talked to many mom that delivered with subutex and their babies were fine, I mean there is a chance, but subutex is way better then what  you are doing right now, but if you can wean, wean, I tried and couldn't.  I got to 30weeks like you and realized I had to do something fast or my baby was going to be a mess at birth.  Me and baby are doing well and my sub dr has had three women deliver babies and they were ok.
Helpful - 0
142722 tn?1281533616
Hey, you sound just like me because I was also taking percocet during my pregnacy and I am still preggo, I am 35weeks, so at 30weeks I sought help just like you are doing.  I went to a dr who gives out suboxone.  I had the same choices you did, so I tried to wean, well tht didn't work, I tired and I keep taking more then what I was supposed to.  I tried to stop Cold Turkey, well that didn't work either because I got so much anxiety and other w/d stuff that it was to much on the babyand me.  My choice was suboxone, well subutex because I was perggo, and it saved me really.  I had to wait 24hour after my last percocet pill, which was hard, and when I took the first pill it helpped.  I have been on it since then and I feel normal and don't crave pills.  I think this may be the best choice.  I will be honest, I was taking 40-80mg of percocets pills from 20week to 30weeks.  You are so much like me it is unreal.  It sounds like you tried to wean and you tried to stop CT.  With subutex you can get a scrpit and you don't have to go to a clinic every day.  I feel better and it is still scary but what is better to take subutex or take 40-80mg of percoets a day, I think subutex.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Shinningmom - I take no offense. Its nice to know there are other people that know what I'm dealing with. Plus you are exactly right. I am so ashamed and dissappointed in myself. Im 33 years old and if I would have known 4 years ago, what I know now about pain pills, I would have never taken the first one.
Avisg - I am currently down to 50 - 70 mgs a day. Mornings are really bad because I feel like my feet are broken (which I know is not an excuse).
I have a lot of questions for my next doctor appt in May until then I am going to just keep trying to taper down.
Has anyone delivered a baby while on pain meds, methadone, or suboxene?  I am scared to death. I just knew when I found out I was pregnant that I could stop with no problem......but that hasn't been the case. Then I was told that I could miscarry if i stopped cold turkey and that scared me. So I decided to be honest with the doctors but they act like its no big deal.
All of this advise and words of encouragement are so helpful so please feel free to tell me as much as you can - good or bad. Suggestions on how to ease the pain of withdrawal would be appreciated as well. Thank you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh mommy2be that is a scary situation........  In my opinion the best thing to do would be to ween of the percs because suboxone and methadone are so powerful but if you are unable to do so and need to use suboxone or methadone my experience would say suboxone, however, I am not a doctor.  This is just advice from personal experience.  I quit my pill popping habits cold turkey when I found I was pregnant in September 2008.  I was doing great until my son was born, I had to have an emergency c-section and was put on percs during healing time...... which started my problem all over again, I actually started snorting oxycontin by January of this year and at the beginning of April decided to use suboxone to get clean.  I actually only used it for four days of my withdrawl and then stopped and suffered through the rest which was really not that bad, just uncomfortable.  I used only 2 mg the first day about 1 mg the second day and really just crumbs the next two days.  Everyone is different though, just think of that little guy growing inside you he does not have the choice not to take those percs, YOU decide for him.  I too got pregnancy induced sciatica so I know the pain there.  Imagine that baby being born and having to go through those same withdrawls you did and not because of any choice he/she made but because YOU couldn't find a way to get through this........  Would you hand your 7 year old a percocet?  I want you to understand that I am not trying to critisize you and I do not want to put you in defense mode, but my point is if you would not give your current child that painkiller why would you give it to your baby to be?  I hope that you are able to find your way through this and that your baby comes into this world safe and happy.  I know that opiate addiction is hard and I think that you know you need to beat this for that baby so don't get discouraged with my words if you find them harsh.  My words are only opinion and like I said I hope that you will find your way through and that baby will be safe and healthy and happy!  
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
How much are you on right now ? If you are going to do either. I would look into a low dose of subtext .They are using it in pregnant now one of our other members is taking it kris123 . If u pm her she will talk to u about it but really it depends how long you have taken the percs if you think u could do a slow taper to either the lowest dose possible of off the perks whatever u decide research research ....
Helpful - 0
340590 tn?1290952141
Hi and I am glad you have talked with your docs about it.  Sub and methadone come with their on set of problems...I personally would get the dr. to help wean off the percs...slowly...but your dr will know that....good luck to you and the baby.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.