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Need advice not sure WHAT to do!

I know this will be a bit long and want to thank everyone in advance for taking the time to read this and any input is welcome as I just do NOT know what to do anymore so here it goes. I am a Hydrocodone addict and was taking around 5-6 7.5 or 10's whatever was available. I became addicted to them because I found they helped with my anxiety ( I've been to many Dr's about my anxiety and been on many diff meds, but the Hydro's "worked" it seem). Long story short I became pregnant. I told my OBGYN about my addiction, but he didn't seem to have much experience in this area, so I did some research on my own and found out about a drug called Suboxone that is supposed to help people get off Hydro's). I found a Pain Management Dr in my area that prescribed Suboxone and contacted him, made an appt, and went in for a consultation. (I asked them on the phone if they gave Suboxone to preg women and they said yes). Well when I got to the appt, the Dr said no he could not prescribe me the Suboxone as it has not been studied enough to be deemed safe during pregnancy and instead put me on 10mg of Methadone 3X daily. I took it for a week and discovered it was WAY WAY to strong so I called the Dr, and explained and he agreeded that the Methadone was indeed prob to strong. He then decided to put me on a Hydrocodone taper plan and have me off before I give birth. He started me on 7.5/325 3 X daily, and left the dosage there for 3 mo straight. Well he would ask me how I was doing and I told him ok for the most part, but feared my body was developing a tolerance. He left me on this dosage for one more month and then at my last appt he asked how I was doing again, which I told him I was developing a tolerance. He then cut me down to 5mg 3X daily. My problem is , this is NOT working. I am still going through withdrawls, feeling sick, all the nasty symptoms though I am taking the 5mg 3X a day like prescribed. I don't know what to do, at my next appt I need to tell him its not helping (I've been told WD's are NOT safe for preg women, which is why they highly discourage cold turkey WD's while preg). but I am afraid he is going to just get mad at me. I really want off of them, but I can't handle the WD's. I have considered detox, but right now its not an option. I will see my Dr on the 27th, but he seems adament about leaving me on the current dosage, but its not helping and I don't want to resort to doubling up on my meds just to have relief. I have tried just dealing with it, but its really been a struggle. I know I am doing a taper plan and the point is to go down, so why is it such a struggle. I feel that being on the same dosage for 3 mo straight caused me to develop a tolerance, and lowering it down my body is fighting it severely. Any advice would be appreciated.
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1531526 tn?1330736076
Hiya, welcome! Unfortunately, like CATUF said we cannot give you a taper plan as it is against guidelines. That was a big drop in a dosage, and I find it a bit odd that the doc would keep you on the same dosage for 3 straight months. Of course you built a tolerance to it at that point..was it the pain doc that is tapering you? And you say you're having wds still..? If you're on the same dosage, I don't see how you'd still be having wds. I'd expect it when he first dropped your dose from 7.5s to the 5s at first, but after 3 months you're still feeling wd symptoms? Or is it that it's not helping you? I'm not sure, but I thought that it was ok if you take xanax while pregnant? You're taking the vics for anxiety, does the pain doc know this? It is ok as far as I have read and know that pregnant women can take vicodin during pregnancy. Why are you wanting to go off of it? Just curious..because yes it is extrememly dangerous to go CT while pregnant, don't do that. But the plan you're on sounds like slowly ripping off a band aid.

At the rate you're tapering, it'll take forever to go off completely it sounds like. Wish I could help you more, but we can't go into details on taper plans..My only advice is to see another doctor. The obgyn doesn't want to touch this it sounds like, and a pain doc should be more knowledgeable about tapering and such. See a primary care doctor and ask them how they can help. I'd definitely get a second opinion on what to do, as this just sounds like the pain doc is ignorant. And do this ASAP as you have yourself AND that baby to take care of..good for you though for wanting to get clean, but see a primary doc. They can help you taper and get your anxiety under control..pain meds will only cause more problems for you if you're on them long term,and if you're using them to help your anxiety.

Maybe you should also see a therapist of some sort to help deal with your anxiety possibly med free and they can help you get to the root of all your issues with anxiety and get it under control without the meds.Vicodin is not supposed to be used long term as it will build up a tolerance in your body..any pain med will do that. You either need to be on an anti anxiety med (I know xanax is ok during pregnancy, but that is highly addictive) there are lots of meds out there with minimal side effects, but I don't know which ones are ok during pregnancy. i can tell you that I was on Lexapro, my sister is on it now and we both had great success in controlling the anxiety with that. Again, make sure it's ok to take while pregnant though. Please see a 'regular' doc and get this figured out. I wish you the best of luck, good luck with the pregnancy *how far along are you:?* and keep us posted on what happens. Hope this helped a little :)
Helpful - 0
52704 tn?1387020797
Dropping to 5 x 3 from 7.5 x 3 was too big of a drop.  That's a 33% drop all at once.  Talk to your doc about this.  We're not allowed to give specific advice on tapering here, so you may not get too many responses.

Good luck

CATUF
Helpful - 0
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