Pregnant and Addicted to Lortabs

[Desperatetimes]

I Have been addicted to Vicoden and now Lortabs for about 2 1/2 years. I consume about 25 to 30 a day. I recenctly found out that I am PREGNANT with my 1st child. I am about a month and a week along. I need information on what damage I may have already done to my baby and the best way to get off this nasty addiction without affecting my unborn baby. Any suggestions on the easiest way to deal with the withdrawal symptoms? Please help me and my child!

[tiffvelez86]

I was a heavy crack addict for over five years. I smoked crack everyday, as much as I could. Overdosed several times. I know it's not the same drug, but crack is hard to quit too. After being addicted to the horrible drug for so long, I found out I was pregnant. About a month along, like you, and there was no option for me. I quit right then and there, never smoked it again and now I have been clean for almost 3 years and I have a beautiful two year old son that  I love so much. I kiss his little head everyday and thank him for saving my life. If I had not gotten pregnant with him I would probably be dead today and I would not have all the blessings I have today. I fully believe God sent me him to save me and to bring me closer with Him. I know it seems hard and you're not going to feel good for the first few days after you stop, but God can pull you through anything. I just slept for a few days straight, and then ate like crazy. I hope you choose life for  your baby, if I can quit smoking crack, I know you can quit your addiction too. Give yourself a chance at life.

[violettetulle]

Groovygirl & others are not only incorrect(thus ignorant of those facts)with some of their comments but are likely to scare the socks off opiate addicted pregnant women who are already scared and battling guilt. First of all Opiates in & of themselves are not thought to be teratogenic. Heroin is not a teratogenic. Of course, if possible, the less drugs(pref none)one is on while pregnant, whether prescribed or illegal is best. However, half of all pregnancies are unplanned & there are a lot of addicts in this world. Of course you should make every vested effort not to use while pregnant but if you are battling an addiction, the best thing to do is to get honest w yourself real quick & seek detox &/or medical help to ensure the best possible pregnancy & birth. If you are an addict, do not beat yourself up, stress hormones can be terrifly terrible to you & your unborn baby. Addiction &/or falling off the wagon EVEN when pregnant is, unfortunately, part of our dilemma, addicts have an uncontrollable urge to use drugs. And the physical componant especially w opiates is quite powerful. But with a lot of strength, the right help(& prayers!)it is possible to stop using & abstain for the rest of your pregnancy. It is VERY possible, thank God, for an opiate addicted woman to be put on subutex while pregnant & either taper down or have a healthy delivery/baby while on it. It is NOT proven to contribute to birth defects of any kind. Opiate/opiode addicted babies are NOT the most horrific thing. Yes its sad, yes they will experience mild discomfort but if you are honest then @ birth the doctors/nurses will look for signs of withdrawal & will then use morphine or barbituates to make the baby VERY comfortable & then wean them off. Babies have no past memories to relate the withdrawals through like we do, they simply withdraw & w todays knowledge there is plenty to comfort & that does comfort them if need be. Know you can get off your d.o.c. opiate if you are pregnant & want the child. It can be hard but with subutex, talking to someone you trust, prayer, mediation, writing nightly in a journal, n/a meetings: whatever it takes is what it takes. Usually a combination if meds to deal (subutex)ti handle yiur withdrawal, cravings & pain & redirection of energies. You can do it, for you & your baby! Take comfort in the fact you are NOT alone.

[mousey34]

Do not take ULTRAM this the blood baby can bleed out.... also dont totally stop cold turkey will harm baby... if you are taking that many it is risky so try cuttining it down by 4 a day until you are only taking 10 at max that is the safest way....
Kristi Richey R.N.P

[kiwi512]

Hello. :)  I've started a blog about breaking free of Lortab addiction. I was addicted to them too.

http://kickingtabs.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

I journaled my whole ordeal; the withdrawals, recovering, etc. and "life without Lortabs".

I hope to encourage you and perhaps you too can make a blog to inspire others as well.
If you do decide to, please let me know! I'd like to keep in touch.

Thanks, and take care. :)

-Kiwi

[Rebekah315]

I went int the doctor for a routine check up and subscription for prenatals, I was having some pain from the pregnacy and it was becoming very bad so the doctor prescribed me loritab every 6 hours. I started only taking one a day but the paain increased and the irritability without taking it mad it impossible for me to deal with my three year old and husband. Soon I got up to 6 in a day and began feeling suicidal. I went into the emergency room and discovered that the original pain was from a urinary tract infection that the prescribing doctor never treated me for, instead he gave the loritab....after listening to you all I see that after my ER visit I abruptly stopped loritabs abd began spotting the following week, I never understood but now I see that the withdrawals were too stressful on the baby, was never told about this side effect, now I have no baby at all.....nervous and scared, what should I do?

[mommydearestut]

I can fully understand where you are coming from i am in the same situation. I am 20 weeks pregnant with my daughter and i was taking up to 15 pills a day. Due to a accident, i had to have my face reconstructed, i have always have horrible migranes.  I had a reality check last week when my doctor told me he felt i was addicted to my lortabs after almost a year of him prescribing them, he also knew that when my husband returned from Iraq that we would be planning on having a baby. He cut my prescription in half and told me that he was going to start detoxing me as soon as possible. I have tried to stop taking them on my own and it was the worst feeling ever i wanted to crawl out of my skin, every thing ached all over my body i even became depressed and some what hostile, and eventually i even considered suicide for even having of put myself in this situation. I live in Utah and i havent found any one who doesnt look at me like im a monster because of the medication that i am on.

[jennyw169]

Hello all I actually came upon this web site because i am in a similar boat. I am five and half weeks pregnant and takingloratab. Before I became pregnant I consulted several doctors web sites and friends on this subject due to the severe back pain i have from a car accident 5 years ago. I knew i wanted to have a child but i did not know when. I am so glad it happened now. Basically here is the low down on what every doctor web site and informed friend I spoke with it is completely safe to take your prescribed amount and no more. If you are taking twenty five to thirty a day that is not good however if you back down to the eight a day you are suppose to be taking you should be ok. Assuming you are going to ween off. At 6 months the babies lungs will start to be affected by the lortab so you should be completely weaned off by then. On the flip side if you just quit taking them and dont wean off you can expect to lose the pregnancy due the stress this puts on your body. Its not good for the baby and it is not good for you, many things can happen to you if you just discontinue your medication up to and including a heart attack. So please for your and your babbys sake, wean off your meds and remember you are a good person and a good parent. Good luck and may god bless you and your little one.
Jenny

[curious08]

I am just curious as to how these babies are now? Especially  desparatetimes baby. Was the baby born addicted? Are there any long term devolpmental problems? This was 5 years ago, it would be nice to read a follow up post of some sort.

[FLaddict]

This post is from 5 years ago. If you need support or would like to ask a question, Go down to "Back to Forum" under this post and then click on "Post a New Question"

[lulubella]

im just curious as to where you get 25- 30 pills a day. thats 900 pills a month.

[Recopiateaddict]

I will keep you in my prayers and please let us know how everything turns out.  Also, if any of you have heard of Revia A.K.A. Naltrexone, please let me know.

[Desperatetimes]

Well everyone, I am going to a high risk Dr. today at 11:30am. I am really nervous, but happy at the same time because I know the sooner I get help the better chance my baby will have. I will keep you informed after I get back and maybe I can help with other womens questions they may have on this topic. Thanks guys.

P.S. Cross Your Fingers and please Pray for me.

[Rex1]

We'll be waiting for a an update, OK?

God's Grace and love to you...

Rex

[Recopiateaddict]

First, let me say that I really feel for you and even though I do not know you I will keep you in my prayers.  Second, let me go ahead and tell you that I am a male and a recovering opiate addict and my tolerance and dosage was about the same as yours and I too was addicted to Lortab.  I am currently 2 months clean and let me tell you to get there was hell and I don't know what it's like to have a baby in my stomach but the most important thing is you want help and I admire you for reaching out. By no means am I a doctor, but after the hell I have been through I have done a lot of research and have decided to become a doctor.  From what it sounds like to me you are a wonderful person and not some addict from off the street and like most of us you inadvertently got addicted to Lortab.  Here is my advice, like I said I am not a doctor but I DO KNOW that Methadone takes 1-2 months to exit the patients body.  I'm not sure, but I think this would be the same for the baby.  I agree with the lady that said you should talk to an addictionoligist and let him try to SLOWLY detox you where it is safe for both you and your baby.  As for the advice on the Ultram I would stay clear of this you are replacing one opiate for another and at your intake and tolerance level you would have to take an excess of 15-20 at a time to relieve the withdrawals (at least I did).  Last and most importantly if you can get yourself down to a intake of say 6-8 Lortab a day and then try and stop for 5-7 days and with stand the withdrawals (as long as they are not life threatening to you or your baby), then your body should be cleared of all opiates.  Then, you can start taking Revia A.K.A. Naltrexone i.e. an opiate antagonist.  This is what I did and with in a few days I had no withdrawls or cravings.  Like I said I am no doctor and I don't know if this stuff is safe to take while pregnant or if the baby

[JustMeMe]

let me tell you about my little story of a baby born addicted to Vicodin 10's and demerol!!! it was NOT pretty!!  I was pregnant with my 5th baby.. IF I know anything!!! NOW I know that the pain a baby will suffer from withdrawals is NOTHING compared to any kind of withdrawal suffering I or you could suffer! I am a migraine sufferer and so usually I take fioricet, but that isn't "safe" for a unborn baby so the doctor gave me darvocet.. it helped, and it is the safer of the drugs!!!!!  use the darvocet to get OFF the vicodin!!! ok, so as it goes so far, I am doing fine with taking darvocet only when needed for headaches... then in my 7th month of pregnancy wham.. I got sick.. I felt as though I was DYING.. and I was... Went to the ER and the nurse says "oh honey your just in labor" I said no "honey" I am not.. this IS my 5th child and I am  NOT in labor.. they took me to Labor and delivery. hence I was NOT in labot rushed me to X RAY and found I was having Kidney failure then rushed me into operation.. From there I spent two weeks in the hospital hooked up to IV and being given vicodin and demerol for the pain... then they kept me on vicodin for the rest of the pregnancy for the pain of my kidney since they were not able to complete the surgery due to my being pregnant, only bypass the kidney.so... then when "Crying Macy" (her nickname for life) was born... LITTLE did I know that her suffering would be greater than any I would ever know. I didn't KNOW my baby was born addicted until the week she was born and we got home she cried and cried and cried... 5 children and she is the ONLY one who ever cried like this! I did NOT understand... I was in the pediatricians office every 2 days...after about a week and half of my pediatricican visits we sat down and the "stupid" doctor FINALLY asked me what happened while I was pregnant.. and "STUPID" me then told the story of the kidney failure and meds and so on.. we both realizing that crying Macy was addicted.. hence if I took a vicodin, and breast fed her, she stopped crying! NOT A GOOD THING!!!!!!!! so with a LOT of patience and love and serious nurturing, and completely stopped breast feeding, it took about 6 to 8 months before she finally stopped crying and could feel "normal" I wish I knew then what I know now. and If I can tell you anything.. PLEASE don't keep taking the vicodin..I lost 8 months of being able to play with her like she deserved and she spent all that time crying.. I couldnt breast feed her anymore because she EXPECTED to get her vicodin fix from my breast and so it made her suffer more.. oh yea, by the way, the MOMENT I found out she was addicted, i stopped taking the vicodin and refused any for my following operations. I wanted a clear head to be able to care for my lil Macy and I wasnt going to contribute to her suffering any more by making myself suffer.. by becoming addicted.   Darvocet is a safer pain med to use to get off vicodin. My uncle died 3 yrs ago from mixing methadone and vicodin! just for your info!!!!! Lots of love.... MM

[itsadogslife]

Some information on Methadone from rxlist.com:
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Use in Pregnancy

Safe use in pregnancy has not been established in relation to possible adverse effects on fetal development. Therefore, methadone should not be used in pregnant women unless, in the judgment of the physician, the potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards.

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In addition, your baby will still be born addicted. Not healthy. She will have to go through the wd you are avoiding. She won't be able to articulate the pain she is going through. And as the previous poster pointed out, she will be more likely to suffer learning and other disabilities.

You need to put your baby's health ahead of your own discomfort, IMO. You need a plan. And I really think the best course of action is to get off the drugs as quickly as is safely possible for you and the baby.

Again, you really need to check the laws in your state. There are states that take addicted babies away from their mothers at birth.

itsadogslife

[Desperatetimes]

I am thanking everyone for your time and advice. I would really like to hear more on the Methadone. I have done some research for the past 3 days and this seems to be the safest way to go for the baby. I live in Lafayette, LA and If anyone has any information on Doctors or Methadone treatment centers here please post it. Thank you again, this has been so much help. Please know I am taking all that you say to heart. God Bless all of you.

P.S. The unborn baby's name you are helping is Emily Paige.

Sincerely,
SAT

[itsadogslife]

Some addtional information I gleaned from searching the web.

First of all there is pending legislation in MD that will affect mothers giving birth to drug addicted babies. It is a safe bet that this legislation will pass. I personally believe that this sums up the majority attitude in this country, be it fair or right. Not to get political, but as a liberal, I personally don't agree with it, but I am a minority at this point in time. I personally believe this will negatively impact any possibility of being honest with your doctor and will create more problems that it will solve. At any rate, it would be prudent to check your state's laws regarding the definition of child abuse.

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HOUSE BILL 1142
Synopsis:
Modifying a presumption that a child is not receiving ordinary and proper care and attention within the definition of "child in need of assistance" (CINA) to apply to a child that is born exposed to specified dangerous substances as evidenced by appropriate tests of the mother or the child and to include a mother that refuses the recommended level of drug treatment; altering conditions regarding the termination of parental rights for children to apply to a child that is born exposed to specified dangerous substances; etc.
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Secondly, here is an excerpt with references if anyone cares to research them.

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While the "crack epidemic" has drawn public attention away from other drugs, heroin remains a widespread social problem. Prenatal heroin exposure is associated with preterm delivery (Maas et al. 1990; Gregg, Davidson, & Weindling 1988; Finnegan 1988) miscarriages (Suffet & Brotman 1984) smaller-than-normal head size and low birthweight (Fulroth, Phillips, & Durand 1989; Zuckerman et al. 1989; Pasto et al. 1988; Householder et al. 1982; Stimmel et al. 1982) meconium staining (Pasto et al. 1988; Householder et al. 1982) Some evidence associates heroin with an increased risk for SIDS (McCance-Katz 1991; Deren 1986; Householder et al. 1982).

The majority of babies born to women addicted to heroin (or on methadone maintenance) suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome. (McCance-Katz 1991; Mas et al. 1990; Fulroth, Phillips, & Durand 1989; Rosen & Johnson 1985). This condition includes neurologic signs (hypertonia, tremors, sleep disturbances, seizures), autonomic nervous system dysfunctions, gastrointestinal abnormalities, and respiratory problems (Hoegerman & Schnoll 1991).

Some long-term studies indicate that children prenatally exposed to heroin suffer from below-average weight and length, adjustment problems, and psycholinguistic and other ability deficits through six years of age (and, in Olofsson et al. [1983] through age 10) (Deren 1986; Olofsson et al. 1983; Wilson et al. 1979).

Studies of prenatal methadone exposure report some association with initial developmental deficits. Researchers have not identified consistent long-term effects of prenatal methadone exposure and speculate that these effects largely depend on a combination of biologic and environmental factors (Rosen & Johnson 1985; Chasnoff 1985; Johnson, Rosen, & Glassman 1983).

Heroin and other opiates, including methadone, can cause significant withdrawal in the baby, with some symptoms lasting as long as four to six months. Seizures may also occur and are more likely in babies born to methadone users.

If a woman stops taking illegal drugs during her first trimester, she increases her chances of having a healthy baby.
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There may be more recent studies but this was all I could find.

itsadoglife

[A-Factor]

I work at a Children's Hospital, in the pharmacy, and you would not believe the amounts of Phenobarbital and Methadone that infants get.

It's just unreal.

[Sugarbeens]

HI, I hope that you can stop taking the pills while you are pregnant.  I work with people/children who are born with disabilities.  Disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy have no known reason, but, drugs, cigarettes may cause children to be born with disabilities.  There is no true evidence for sure, but, many parents I have worked with and talked to had admitted to using different drugs, drinking or smoking during pregnancy.  As hard as it can be to detox, do it for the baby and for your family.  Although, when we have children ,even if we lead the cleanest life, there is no guarantee that our children will be born as so-called "normal", whatever that is.  But, when you abuse something and your body, you are also abusing the baby.  Get clean at least while pregnant, that way you will know you did everything possible to make sure your baby is born healthy.  I wish you the best and will pray for you.  Let the forum know how you are doing.  Believe in yourself, you can do this.  Think only about that baby right now, not about feeling high, good or whatever the pain pills do for you.  You sound like a wonderful step-mom and will make a wonderful mom to your own biological child.  They say we become someone different when we have our first child.  It is not about us anymore, but, about a precious life, a part of us that is now the most important.  Take care and love to all.  Butterbean!

[Jennibean]

E-mail me at ***@**** I don't check that e-mail very often but I will and then I will give you my regular e-mail address. Hope to hear from you soon. You will be ok!

[Desperatetimes]

Thank all of you for your helpful info. This sight has really helped not only me but my poor worried husband as well. I mean the stress alone could not be good for the Fetus.

Vicojen, I would really appreciate it if you did post your email. If you are not sure of others overflowing your email you can do what I do; You can have more than one email account. I have a Yahoo account for all of my high risk emails, and AOL for family and friends, it's free. If you go to www.yahoo.com and type email in the search engine space and hit enter it will open you up to a bunch of different emails to choose from. Another way to go is if you have Instant Messaging, we could chat, and if you post your IM name it will be safe because your IM has a preference section that allows you to choose wether you will not except from unknown people. But If you post it I need to also know which IM you are going to be using. If you do not have Instant Messaging Post me back and I will give you instructions, if you do not already know, to set one up. Thanks so much again, all of you really are a life savers!!!
SAT

[RobynBanks]

sorry about your situation. If you want to have this baby, yes you must be 100% honest with your doc. Sometimes its NOT the best thing to withdrawl from opiates= too much of a shock for the baby. Regardless, you should be monitored. Good luck.

[percsnomas]

There were only cautions about posting email addresses.
If this isn't an appropriate time for posting an email add., I don't know what is.