26 weeks pregnant and on pain meds??

[zurriyah]

I am 26 weeks pregnant and on vicodin for severe chronic pain due to fibromyalgia and buergers among other things. and want to stop taking them. I am just wondering how the withdrawals will effect the baby. I currently take 4 10mg vicodin a day which is less than the doctors presecribebut want to stop completely. in my opinion i think it is better to stop now rather than wait but some drs disagree. please help. as long as the baby will b ok i will stop cold turkey but i need to know. and dont have insurance to do impatientor even outpatient.

[lilytoo]

I know this is a little old thread.  But taking vidodin is fairly safe.  New studies have shown to do a very slow tapper, or to not stop at all.  If you do ween or discontinue the mediction it can cause you to go into labor.  There is no physical or mental effects know to cause harm while on these types of meds.  I was on morphine my whole pregnancy and wanted to stop, but the 10 specialist I seen said "absolutely NOT!  The only effect pain meds will have on a baby is maybe 2 onces less at birth weight.  And withdrawl which can be treated after birth.  I have a highly intelligent healthy baby girl.

[Ashelen]

I would highly recommend that you do. But go to your doctor and ask to wean off of them, or ask to "get on a low maintenance dose" that will give you a little relief but you will have much less in your system.....usually what they'll do is prescribe you 5mgs and have you take a half at a time...it's up to you, of course, but I would not personally quit cold turkey. Good luck and I sympathize with how difficult it is to get your doctor to listen. <3

[zurriyah]

thank you for your advice. thats what i wasnt sure about was wether or not and how it would effect the baby. i have asked my doctor about it numerous times and she jsut keeps reminding me what not being on my meds is like- basically in bed. and she reminds me that i have other kids to worry about too but i want off. i have 3 left in this prescript and dont have any refills and dont want to get more but i guess what you are saying is that i have to?

[Ashelen]

you CANNOT stop cold turkey at this point....you may have to simply get down to the lowest maintenance dose possible (2.5mg two or three times a day?) You need to ask your doctor. Vicodin, when being monitored (for anyone else reading this post, it's only safe if it is being monitored!!!!!!!!!!!!)  like it is in your situation, is fairly safe to use during pregnancy. The only time it's a problem is during the last few weeks leading up to labor, and as long as your doctors know they can monitor and react appropriately. Yes you're right it would be best to be off of it, but at this point you should not quit cold turkey, in my experience (I had to take pain meds during my pregnancy for kidney stones and they had to monitor the raising and lowering of my doses carefully) and opinion. Your doctor/OBGyn can help you get down to a low maintenance dose, or can help you wean off of them safely for the baby.