oxycodone while pregnant

[kara78]

I have been in pain management for 3 years.  I currently take 15 mg of methadone and 60 mg of oxycodone 2 times a day.  This is a hight dose of meds.  My Doctor has told me that it is fine for me to be taking these meds.  She said that there is a chance that the baby could go through withdrawels, but it would be monitored by the hospital and not to worry.  I am feeling really paranoid about this, but I want to follow my doctors advice.  I keep worrying that these drugs will kill my babies (twins)...I am aware of the possibility that they will go through withrawels, but what about in the mean time?  Are they ok in my tummy?

[jossysmom]

Hi there, I just read your post and wanted to comment with as much compassion as possible. I am also an addict and am 36 weeks pregnant. When I found out I was pregnant, I was only 5 weeks and I knew that I couldn't keep abusing narcotics like I was. I went to an addiction doctor and he put me on low doses of Subutex. I have been on the Subutex since September of last year. I wanted to tell you this just to impart the knowledge that has been given to me since I've came upon such a painful situation as struggling between being an addict and needing to express my God given right to protect my unborn child. I have spent endless nights worrying about what I was doing to my baby, all the while my doctor telling me that nothing would be wrong. Now, he's probably right that nothing will be wrong with my little boy but knowing that there is even a slight chance that he'll be in any way uncomfortable because of something that I've done is sickening. As far as what's going on in your body right now, none of us can really be sure of what is happening but I do know that at least a small percentage of the medicine intake is passing the placenta. Now, I've been told by several doctors and several pharmacists that taking the medicine while pregnant affects that baby about as much as it does when you are taking the meds while breastfeeding. That seems to be the most common comparison that I've been given about how this is affecting my baby. Hopefully this has helped at least a little. If you need to talk you can pm. me. I'd be more than happy to talk....I promise, I know exactly what you're feeling!!

Jossysmom

[Marce4]

This is an old post!

[Marce4]

Also,,,,why are you on methadone AND oxycodone?????

[Marce4]

Are you going for any type of prenatal testing ie. (Nonstress tests/Biophysical profiles)?  If you are this dose of meds you should be monitoring those baby at least two times a week (Nonstress test) and your medical indication for testing is the fact that you are having twins.  BTW....how many weeks are you.....these tests are usually started at 32 weeks gestation. (I am an L&D/Prenatal testing nurse at a busy high risk hospital).

Good Luck.

[pgnscared]

As I posted on an earlier question. I was an addict and pregnant when I first came to this site over a year ago. I was on 2 5mg percs daily and around 34 weeks I was on hydromorphine for a couple of weeks. I was also very worried because everyone who responded to my posts on here were either supportive and told me not to worry but didn't know much about it or the few who only made it worse. I voiced my concerns openly to my docs and was assured everything would be fine. I had a beautiful healthy baby girl in Nov who was NOT addicted to pain medication. I would try to taper down to a lower dose so that the baby doesn't feel the W/D symptoms cause after all we know how painful they can be so you wouldn't want your baby to feel that way. At this point you can not completely quit because that could do more harm. From what I was told not much of the drug actually gets to the baby since it is broken down by our bodies so quickly and then what our bodies don’t process can’t easily pass through the placenta. Like other things such as alcohol. That is what the nurses told me anyway. Good Luck!!!

[kara78]

Thanks for the input.  My doctors do insist that things will be just fine.  They will monitor the babies for withdrawel symptoms.  BUt I am going to ask them if I can try to taper off of them towards the end of my pregnancy.  My worries are if the meds are hurting them in my womb.  OR if they are being effected at all...
Anyone know about this?
--Kara

[Flutterby111]

I took oxycodone as needed but is was low doses of 5/325's.  I was worried about addicition.  My baby was fine.  But I would be VERY concerned with those hight doses.  I just came off of bad Withdrawls and went to the doctor and told them if anything would've happened to my baby I would've kiled them.  It sucks.  She was fine.  I don't know if breastfeeding helped wean her or what.....good luck sweetie!

[Greatgreebo]

First things first, relax and breath deep. Being stressed out is not good for your babies or you. Your body will protect the babies as best it can-so relax for now. Have you thought about getting a second opinion? Perhaps you can taper down while pregnant to reduce the impact on your babies (if quitting isn't an option)? Definately get more than one opinion on this. I don't know your medical history so I can't comment about your doctors choice of keeping you on the meds. This is definately something you should talk to more than one doctor about though. I wish you luck.
Keep eating healthy, don't stress yourself out, get another opinion and go from there. Keep posting and let us know how you are.
Greatgreebo

[GoingToMakeIt]

This is always a touchy subject. Can you get a second opinion? I would also PM 1234betterlife. (PM=private message) She has a lot of training in OBGYN.

[IBKleen]

This is so sad. More than likely the babies will go thru withdrawal..what a shame. These doctors just don't know about drugs and addiction.

I am glad that the doctor has been alerted and that the hospital knows. I wish youa nd your unborn babies the best. I will pray for you.