Now what??? HELP!!

[(Not so) Spunky]

OK... So I quite possibly have had the WORST 3 days ever, and I seriously could use some advice.. As some may have read, I just was told I have a congenital defect that compresses my spinal cord from the inside out. It's called Chiari 1 malformation with a syringhydromyelia. It also causes my brain to drop lower in my neck and press down on my spinal cord reducing normal blood flow. Now the problem is not that as it is an easy fix. The problem is they have had me on percocet, tramadol, xanax, lyrica, baclofen, and a couple others for a while, and today I find out I'm pregnant. It isn't my first child, but it is my first child I've ever conceived while being addicted to anything, and SCARED to quit!! I want to, obviously, but I don't know that c/t is the way to do it. My first OB told me that c/t is not ok in pregnancy for anything(smoking inc.) But if I taper, am I just slowly killing my baby? The only ones I'm worried about are the percs and xanax, as those I take regulary. ANY AND ALL advice, comments, stories, etc... wanted and needed. The stress alone may cause a significant impact!! My ob appt is tuesday, but that's a LONG TIME!! to not know! Thank you all in advance

[Emmas Mom]

I was on the Fentanyl 75Mcg patch, Norco 4x day, Xanaz 1 mg 3 times a day and Klonopin 1x at bedtime when I found out I was pregnant with my now 14 month old daughter.  I immediately stopped taking the xanax, klonopin and norco and weaned down from the 75 patch to the 50, then 25, then 12 and C/T from there.  I found out I was pregnant at 6 weeks and I was off all medication at 8 weeks pregnant.  It was complete hell on me physically, but I found it to be so worth it for what I have now.  Xanax used in the first 6 weeks of pregnancy can cause cleft lip defect, which I was lucky enough that my daughter did not have it.  I was seeing a pain management doctor and also a high risk OBGYN and because I was so early in my pregnancy the chance of miscarriage was much lower than the damage I would have done to her if I had continued to take the medications.  I was miserable my whole pregnancy but I have a happy and healthy daughter now.  In my second trimester I started taking 2 5/500 Vicoden a day (at night) to take a little of the edge of my pain so I could sleep.  That is the only amount safe to take while pregnant and not having to worry about withdrawals in the baby.  My advice to you is to bite the bullet and stop the anti-anxiety meds, as they have actually been provednto cause harm to a fetus and wean yourself off the pain medicine within a two week period.  You will not miscarr from doing this!! Miscarriage with medications is more likely to happen once the baby is fully deveopled, towards the middle of your second trimester and forward.  I have a ton on medical journal artices on this topic and I will support you in any way as I have been there.  It is pure hell for about two weeks, but when you hold your perfect baby in your arms and know that she/he does not have to be hospitalized for withdrawals and can come home with you it is the best feeling in the world.  My email is b_dediego***@**** if you want to chat.
Good luck!
Beth

[Skyfoxglitter]

I have worked in OB/GYN for 10 years and I can tell you what I know.... You should not go c/t at all... Percocet is a catagory c in pregnancy which in short means that there have not been extensive studies done to colaborate on the risks.. We have patients that do take narcotics the whole duration of their pregnancy we just moniter them a little closer, you should however only take it as prescribed and no more.. But essentially it is the OB doctors decision wether to keep you on them or ween you off, you have to outway the benefits -vs-- risks... Xanax generally is not preferred in pregnancy..I hope this helps you some but believe me if you continue to take the narcotics you are NOT slowly killing your baby you just have to moniter your intake..

[Emmas Mom]

Do not stress yourself out.  You are going to get through this!!  If I could do it, anyone can.  I was so incredibly addicted to my pills and patches.  I would double up on the patches and my pills would always be gone early.  I was an extremely high risk pregnancy due to cervical incompetence and I was seeing the best OBGYN in California.  C/T is okay for the anxiety meds because they are actually in the dangerous category for pregnancy.  With your pain meds, the quicker you taper and the earlier you do it in pregnancy, the less risk to you and your baby.  I have been lurking on this site for like a month and you seem like a wonderful person.  It is scary, so so scary but just keep thinking about the life growing inside you.  If you need any support or someone to talk to email me and I will give you my number.  I will be praying for you!

[girlybuff]

I just want to tell you that vicodin/percocet are relatively safe during pregnancy.
It's a category C, which means that no adequate studies have been done, because what scientists are going to pump pregnant women full of drugs BUT it's still relatively safe.
There are no known defects from taking them as prescribed and in moderation during pregnancy.
I was prescribed vicodin 7.5 and percocet throughout my entire pregnancy and my daughter came out healthy, on time and not addicted.  Of course you need to always let your dr know how much you've been taking etc.
The one concern many dr's have, and I saw a high risk specialist my entire 9 months, is whether or not the baby will become addicted and suffer withdrawal.  If you take it regularly and close to delivery that could be a factor but if they are aware of it, they can easily fix it.
Believe it or not but vicodin and percocet are safer to take in pregnancy than ibuprofen (advil and motrin).  Those are a no no as they can stop the blood flow to the baby from the mother.  
The xanax, however, is cat X meaning there are known risks especially early in pregnancy so if you don't NEED them to survive, I would stop taking them as soon as you can.
As with any medication in pregnancy the benefits for the mother must outweigh the risks but c/t is probably the worst thing to do because of the stress you will be putting on your body.
Stay strong and communicate with your dr.
I'm sure it will be fine.
Good luck!!

[Emmas Mom]

If you look at the National Institute of Health articles, yes you CAN take pain medications in pregnancy because it will not cause a birth defect per say, but it will cause withdrawal symptoms unless you are taking a very minute amount daily.  I mean, women who just get a shot of pain medicine in labor have shown that it decreases respitory effort in babies.  The most serious withdrawal symptoms of the mother, increased blood pressure, diarrhea, anxiety, loss of appetite, vomiting usually only last 3 days and if done in the first tri-mester of the very beginning of the second will not harm the baby.  Women who have morning sickness or pre-eclampsia experience these symtoms sometimes for large portions of their pregnancy.  While studies done on children who were born addicted to opiates show learning disabilities and emotional disabilites later on in life in many cases.  I am not trying to scare you, just make sure you are informed.  As scary and as painful as it may be, not taking the medicine is better for your baby.  If you do decide to take the percoset during pregnancy just try to take the least amount as possible in your third trimester.  I am not judging you in the least bit.  I took two vicoden every day (which did not help very much after the heavy medicines I was on) during part of my pregnancy and all the 3rd trimester and I have a perfectly healthy daughter.  I know how scary this is, I have been exactly where you are and the more information I had, the less panicked I felt.  God Bless!

[girlybuff]

I'm not trying to be argumentative but you posted this:

In my second trimester I started taking 2 5/500 Vicoden a day (at night) to take a little of the edge of my pain so I could sleep. That is the only amount safe to take while pregnant and not having to worry about withdrawals in the baby.

And it's not entirely true.  I was taking more than that and my daughter came out fine.  My doctor is listed as one of the country's best peri-natal specialists and he prescribed it for me.  I'm just trying not to scare this girl.  It IS very possible to have a healthy NON-addicted baby on a higher dose than that.  Please just talk to your dr aboutt he best thing for YOU.
  

[girlybuff]

Emmas Mom is quite right though... please just take the very least amount that you can because it's always better to be safe than sorry.......  

[(Not so) Spunky]

Thank you so much!! I generally only take xanax at night to sleep. .25 or .5.. Those should be relatively easy to quit, as I remember sleep coming quite easily in my pregnancies!!! ( this is #4 for me) I was more concerned about the narcotics. I've been weaning down off and on lately, but wanted to make sure that was still the best way to go- not c/t. thanks to all who replied and keep 'em coming!! I gotta fight for 2 of me now, so I'm gonna need the help!! At least there better only be one in there... multiples may make me reconsider my stance on this!!!! J/K

[applesauce]

Well, I worked with Methadone Clients for 8 years. it is very dangerous to c/t narcotics. You can loose your baby. The best time to taper is in the 2nd trimester and stay at a low dose until you have the baby. Follow your OB they will definately keep you and your baby safe.

You are in my prayers