Pregnant & taking Vicodin

[killezoey]

I have a Vicodin prescription for 5/500, 40 pills every 30 days to manage my Crohn's disease pain. I've had this revolving prescription for about a year. I am 27 weeks pregnant and have been taking 1 to 1.5 pills a day all but 1 week of my pregnancy. My OB does know that I was taking them in the beginning and hasn't asked me anything in follow up. At that time I had brought up the pills which I had been off for a week (from 6-7 weeks, after discovering I was pregnant), just wanting to know if at 6 weeks pregnant I had done any damage. To my surprise he shook his head and murmured something like "maybe if you were taking them every day and toward the end..." but otherwise was quite dismissive of any risk. Soon after I saw a perinatologist who also dismissed Vicodin as fine pregnancy "unless you go overboard". With this in mind, I started taking them again.

Even at this low dose they sure have made my pregnancy more bearable physically. But here's the thing. I think they have also been helping me mentally and I think I've slipped into taking them just as maintenance, whether or not I physically feel I need to. But then I also do have pain (arthritic mostly, due to the Crohn's)... and Tylenol doses adequate to really get me functioning would be at levels harmful to my liver and possibly baby, so what am I to do?

So here I am at 27 weeks, currently taking 1 5/500 pill in 2 divided doses. Even with some physical dependency I don't think that this would be considered too risky to continue during pregnancy provided that they were made aware in the hospital so that they could be prepared if any withdrawals set in in the baby. But here's the thing - I have to go see my prescribing general practice doc to get another sequence of refills, and this doc is not aware that I'm pregnant. So I'm going to assume that they would refer me to my OB instead. So if I just keep this to myself I am going to be out of pills in about 2 weeks at my current rate, more if I taper after this final round of pills, as I had planned to do all along.

But I've done some research recently and discovered to my surprise that it's not necessarily the amount you take but the frequency that makes stopping difficult. Like, if it never totally clears your system, dependency sets in. And based on what I know of the half life, I haven't been clear of Vicodin now for like 19 weeks. So I'd assume even at this low dose I will experience some withdrawal after going to zero. I am quite sure I can tolerate the withdrawal (hell, I quit Zoloft - what a riot that was!) but should I be worried that even that low a taper could affect my unborn child?

So that's the quandary. Do I just go ahead and taper down as I had planned? I could do 1/2 pill per day for a week, then 1/4, then nothing. Or should I consider even this low taper to be too risky and discuss with my OB? For some reason, even though this man will be opening me up for a c-section in a few months, I'm ashamed to tell him that I may be physically dependent (and possibly mentally as well).

I am posting this because I noticed that there are a few other women here who have been in the same boat, but I'm not sure anyone here has been on this low of a dose and in this position.

Thanks in advance for any support you can give!

[Alera]

Welcome to SR! Although we can't give medical advice we can offer support. Also, we have a chronic pain forum here for those who need medication for medical conditions. You might want to check it out. Recovery and Pain Management

My sister has a chronic pain condition and is looking at the possibility of pregnancy. She was told it can be the other drugs in narcotics (such as aspirin or acetaminophen) that cause the problems. If you have legit pain, and you have the doctors approval for your pregnancy, I think the baby should be okay. Just keep an eye on the dosage and reasons for taking it.

Hope to see you in the Chronic Pain forum!

[killezoey]

Thanks for that, Alera! I will definitely check out that other board as well. Your comment that all should be fine if it's legit pain and doctor is overseeing actually illuminates part of the problem I'm having. Different doctors for different things. I have my GI doc's approval for the pregnancy, my Gen. Practice doc's pain meds (as is typically done with Crohn's), and an OB that seems profoundly disinterested in my disease or meds! Makes it hard to feel like anyone's really overseeing this. Well, I guess that's not really fair of me. After all my OB doesn't know I'm taking the pain meds still and my prescribing doc does not know that I'm pregnant. Kind of hard to oversee under those conditions.

[SelfSeeking]

Welcome, killezoey! I think you've got a right to feel the way you do. It sounds like your ob is not being very attentive. You shouldn't have to figure out the best way to taper off the vicodin, I mean, maybe you don't even need to taper, who knows? Have you ever thought about interviewing other ob's? At 27 weeks you've still got plenty of time...

[ccgirl2]

With a prenancy involved, I wouldn't do it at home, even at that lower dose. Frankly, I'm suprised at your OB for not pursuing the issue in the beginning. This is absolutely a matter for doctors. You would feel guilty for the rest of your life if something happened to your baby.

[Chino]

Originally Posted by killezoey

Makes it hard to feel like anyone's really overseeing this. Well, I guess that's not really fair of me. After all my OB doesn't know I'm taking the pain meds still and my prescribing doc does not know that I'm pregnant. Kind of hard to oversee under those conditions.

Full disclosure is the responsibility of the patient. If you sign a release with all your doctors they can communicate with each other and find the best course of treatment for you while pregnant.

Best wishes to you and the baby

[WLDKATZ]

Welcome Kille:
First congrads on the pregnancy
Second...time to level WITH ALL OF YOUR DOCS.......this is someone speaking from experiance......I miscarried back in January due to toximeia( think I spelled that wrong).....I became toxic after taking meds from 3 different doctors and 2 of them didnt know I was pregnant......who do I have to blame, me.......not to say this will happen just take into account it is some thing that COULD happen.....is it really worth the risk......I know about crones...have it myself in a low level form and understand the pain....but more than that I understand the mental "need" to take those pills....I will be in so much pain if I don't or the I will stop taking these and start drinking or drugging again to escape the pain......again I ask is it really worth it????

I hope and pray you take into consideration that when ppl say dont stop cold turkey because of withdrawls that you decide to stand up for yourslef and say I am not going to go threw the withdrawls because I want something more......the need will be there granted.....just think of something you want more......good luck, pm if you want to talk.....I do understand probally more than you think!!!!


Hugs,
Pamm

[butterflylover]

Congrats on the pregnancy and welcome! I'd definitely tell the prescribing doctor that you're pregnant. But that's just my opinion.

[killezoey]

Thanks for your perspectives. I tried to talk to my Dr. 3 days ago over the phone but stopped short of telling him I've been taking the vic's. So now I feel even more awkward bringing it up again, as I kind of made it sound like I was asking a question about pain management in general during pregnancy. Since I brought up the subject and did not get honest with him I think how bad it will look if I do manage to get him up to speed with what I've been doing. The reason I chickened out is that off the bat, his tone regarding the subject was much harsher this time than at the first appt. - he actually sounded like a different person. I feel like I've dug myself in a hole here and am actually considering just starting fresh with a new OB, if I can even find one around here accepting new patients. Today is my 3rd day on just 1/2 a tab of the 5/500 vicodin and I have enough to go on this way for a while so I can figure out what to do. I don't feel badly or anything, but I know that giving up that last bit could be dangerous for baby and I don't want to risk anything. So confused and feeling so afraid and alone!

[WLDKATZ]

Kille it is more dangerous for the BABY if you dont quit taking it.....sounds like YOUR NOT READY......honey look to yourself what is best for that baby is to take care of you and it......not just you... I know what it is like to have the pain and not beable to USE ANYTHING because I was pregnant.....I have fibermaliygia ( forgive my spelling), neropathy, diabeties, a chronic heart desise, chrones, reoccuring cancer cells and tumors, and a few other things that pop up from time to time like plurasey as well as artheritus threwout my body from a car accident that had me hospitalized of 4 years and 9 months.....4 times I have gotten pregnant 1 live birth that died at 17 days , 2 miscarriages and one still born......common factors, vicodin and too many other pills.....

take a chance on a healthy baby Kille quit taking the pain pills....in the long run YOU PERSONALLY will feel better about it!!! Right now your baby is absorbing EVERYTHING that you put into your body I would hate to see another woman lose a baby because of toxiemia... it is deadly for the baby as well as the mother....


love and hugs,
Pamm and fam

[killezoey]

WLDKATZ, I'm so very sorry about your losses and all you have been through. I may not have been completely clear though - I am wanting to be clear of this and will be soon as my script will be done and I will not pursue another. After doing a lot of reading, my quandary regarding the pills themselves (aside from my squeamishness about approaching Dr.) is about whether it is safer to quit at this point or to consider continuing to use a very dose in order to avoid baby having withdrawals in utero. I am taking 1/2 pill a day currently and just a little unsure about going off completely. THAT is where my problem lies, not in whether or not I should quit. Sure, vicodin is not good for baby and ideally would be avoided altogether. But now that I have a physical dependency I do not believe just "quitting" (which implies cold turkey) is medically recommended. There is a difference between using such info to justify ongoing use and truly trying to be careful with this step for baby's sake.

[anvilhead]

and your best answer to that is to talk to your doctor.....then there will be no QUANDRY or confusion. since the baby can't ask, you need to be her advocate.........please take most excellent care of both of you...........

[WLDKATZ]

again I agree with anvil....TALK WITH YOUR DR NOW! it isn't something that should keep being put off.....you are taking a risk....also what anti depressants are you taking, I saw your post on another thread?!?!? ALL of the meds are not good for your baby and then if you have 1 or more dr perscribing things for you and they dont know what the other is doing then it turns toxic for you as well!!!!


Please come clean with you ob tonight if not tomarrow!!!!!!


HUGS,
Pamm

[princezz07]

Please do not quit cold turkey....this can cause placental adruption, pre term labour, or miscarriage....GO TO DOC who specialises in this area ASAP!!
Taper off slowly under medical supervision is the safest way (i was advised this myself) i was told c/t could cause me to lose my baby, as they cannot monitor it well enough in utero, like you said.
I too was advised to quit there and then, by people on a recovery forum, thank goodness i listened to the doctors in stead!!! Please get honest, for you and your precious baby, you need medical support now.
PM me if you wanna chat, i know where your at, and how confusing it feels.

All the best. (((hugs)))

[killezoey]

WILDKTZ, to answer your AD questionI am not taking antidepressants or any meds other than the Vicodin. I HAD been taking Zoloft but switched to Wellbutrin, quit that when I got pregnant. Will probably later go on something deemed safe for a nursing mom post partum. I am now currently on a supervised taper, down to 1/4 pill a.m. and 1/4 pill p.m., switching to just the 1/4 pill for a week soon, then nada. So far so good, not uncomfortable at all. Not going to be an issue at all with baby, I am told. So I thought I'd pass that along. This whole experience has been very harrowing and I am glad to have gotten medical advice as some of the lay opinions can be very alarming.

[hairgirl]

Just remember, you have a life growing inside of you who has to live with what you do to your body! I commend you for taking care of yourself, it is hard to do.
You are giving your child the greatest gift.I lost my baby earlier this year, and nobody knows why, sometimes we do not get the luxury of getting answers, but it is ok.I find comfort in knowing it is part of life's plans for me.If I could face it and stay clean, than that is enough for me.
I wish you the best, and stick around here for support, it is a great place for you to get help and words of wisdom.