i am 5 weeks pregnant and prescribed to suboxone

[donnah92]

I know suboxone is in the FDA category C. I was prescribed to suboxone for addiction to hydrocodone 10 mg. I have been in treatment since September 2011. When I found out I was pregnant I was so worried for my baby so I stopped in fear for my baby. I can't get an iota sound yet but I'm worried to death. Do you think my baby is ok? I was taking 2 4/2 suboxone a day.

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

I don't wont you to worry, please. You should have talked to your doctor first, but what you did was fine. You will go through withdrawals, though and so will your baby. Going through opiate withdrawals will not harm your baby, nor you.  If you had talked to your doctor, s/he would have told you that even though Suboxone (like all other opiates) is a category C drug, it is a drug of choice to tapering pregnant addicts.  Instead of cold turkey, you could have tapered yourself off, sparing yourself the worst of the symptom. However, since you already stopped, if you are feeling OK, don't start, just relax and know that everyone will do just fine.
Please fine an obstetrician or a midwife to make sure you are getting excellent pre-natal  care through your whole pregnancy, stay hydrated, stop smoking, if you do, eat healthy and keep active. Also make sure to read my blog on pregnancy and addiction, I know you will find it interesting. Just click on my name and than blogs. Good luck to you and your baby.

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Thank you so much for sharing with us, I am so happy for you and your baby. Please let us know when you give birth, so we can continue to share in your happiness.

Love and joy,

Dr. Julia

[donnah92]

Since I have gotten my life together everything has been great. I quit smoking the day I found out. My doctor ended up thinking tapering me off suboxone was the best idea so we did that and it took 1 week and I am so happy I came forward while still so early in my pregnancy. I havent smoked of taken a suboxone since week 6 of my pregnancy. At week 7 I saw ny little one for the first time and heard a heartbeat. I am 14 weeks now and I just moved into a house! And my baby will have its own room and bathroom lol. I am also getting married. My point is all j worried about was getting high from suboxone. It wasn't helping me anymore just hurting me.  And it took my baby and the will to have a healthy baby to get my stuff together. Please think of your families or significant others. People do need you whether you think so or not. I used to think it was impossible to quit but then I found my will to live.
Good luck

[shoregal02]

Suboxone has narcan in it which is not good for the baby. Subutex is what is used during pregnancy. Both have buprenorphine but subutex does not have narcan. The doc who prescribed you suboxone will continue to prescribe but will switch to subutex. It is best to do that then risk using suboxone or going back to opiates and it helps with pain which u will experience with pregnancy. It should be a decision you and your doc make. I would advise you to get an appt and discuss ur options. You will feel much better about ur decision and u will have the support of ur doc who will help with ur ob/gyn. Going through opiate withdrawal can cause spontaneous abortion and seizures in ur baby. Please look online and you can find this out. I'm not trying to scare you just being honest. I am a pediatric nurse and have extensive experience with pain pill abuse and pregnancy. I have the medical background as well as personal experience. Good luck and I truly hope you take my advice.