tapering of methodone while pregnant

[hampton1982]

i am 7 wks pregnant i am on 10mls once daily i plan to taper of this slowly in my 2nd trimester how slow do you think i should go? 1ml a week? if i get down to 2ml daily or hopefully of completly by 26 wks pregnant will my baby be boern with withdrawal? plz help x

[IBKleen]

I had to go before, just got back and wanted to make sure I spoke to you. First, I should never have used the term "we" and for that you have my apology. I am speaking for myself and should have simply said "I".

Your question was: "i am 7 wks pregnant i am on 10mls once daily i plan to taper of this slowly in my 2nd trimester how slow do you think i should go? 1ml a week? if i get down to 2ml daily or hopefully of completly by 26 wks pregnant will my baby be boern with withdrawal? plz help x".

So yes hun, you were looking for taper information and that is why I responded the way I did. I do not believe that in your situation you should be relying on any medical information on the internet. I believe you should be getting that only from your doctor.

I have not personally been pregnant while taking Methadone so I am not equipped to answer your question either way but let's say for the sake of argument I told you that I had been on 150mls of Methadone and delivered a baby boy who had no withdrawal and everything was fine. Would you assume that the same thing would happen to you? You may and that is my concern. You are asking a group of virtual strangers about something so very important and potentially dangerous. For all you know, I could be a 17 year old boy In Bermuda trolling the internet for fun. See where I am going with this?

I do not want to see you walk away and I do not want you to feel lonely. I DO want you to come on here and talk with us about what you are feeling and what is going on. If I didn't care I would not be sitting here writing this--I very much care and I am trying to help you and essentially protect you.

I hope you do come back and more than that, I hope everything works out for you and your baby.

[dominosarah]

You havent made anyone uncomfortable.  We just want you to talk with your doctor so both you and the baby are safe.  We are here for you hampton....Dont quit talking with us.  We all care what happens to you~~~~~sara

[hampton1982]

im obviously makeing people uncomfortable so will not bother asking again. thanks for all your wonderfull advice trust me when i say it has all gone in and i will be spckin to my docter and midwife. i apologize for anyone i have put in a situation that has made you feel awkward and uncomfortable it will not happen again. sorry x

[hampton1982]

once again i am not asking anyone to tell me how to taper i do not want to know doses i just wanted to know how it turned out for anyone who has gone through either staying on methodone or decideing to come of it. obviously i too want what is best for me and my baby too of course i do.
i did not want to make anyone uncomfortable and hope i have not i do not need to ask you for tapering doses its all over the internet anyway in peoples questions and peoples stories if i was keen on doing this on my own ( which i have no intention as i am on here0 i just wanted to know how it turned out for other people and to help me make up my minde what to do weighing up the pros and cons.
I REPEAT I DO NOT WANT PEOPLES TAPERING SCHEDULES I AM NOT ASKING FOR THIS.
thanks anyway x

[ImDONENoMore]

IB's right - it's one thing if you're only dealing with yourself alone and what may occur during withdrawal and quite another when an unborn child is in question.  But keep posting and venting whatever your feelings are - it is VERY therapeutic at the very least!  :)

[IBKleen]

I am sorry hun, but anyone sharing their experience on how they took with Methadone while pregnant is the same thing. It IS telling you essentially how to do it. Again, please talk this over with your doctor. this is NOT information you should be asking for on the internet and other's peoples experiences may not be the same as yours. This is dangerous and you are putting yourself and your unborn child in harm's way and you are putting us in an uncomfortable situation.

I wish you and your baby the best.

[hampton1982]

i am not sure about that that is a good question but i cannot get appointment till monday to see my doc i will tell him then and see what he says but i am also going to inform my midwife to so i cannot get panicked and go back on my decision if that makes sense? i dont want anyone to give me taper schedules that wld not be fair to ask i just wanted to know both sides of the decision as i know one doc will say stay on methodone and other docs say no taper but i wasnt sure what was safe and as they all say different htings i just wanted to hear people who have actually gone through both ways i know a docter is a professional and knows more than me but after all said and done if they cannot agree on which way is best to proceed and they have no personal experience of tapering a addiction i thought the info would be best from the horses mouth from real people who have been through it. i am not asking anyone to tell me anything that is not allowed. thankyou once again for all advice and kind words xx

[hampton1982]

i am definetly going to tell my midwife sat as this seems to be the best thing. i dont want yous to tell me how to taper i understand why you cannot i just wanted to know peoples stories that have gone through a taper while pregnant and how it all turned out and i also wanted to know stories on people who decided to stick with the methodone and how that turned out to. after all said and done docters give different opinions and in the end it it me who will have to decide what to do. thankyou for all your help you lot have been very understanding and a great help i thank you all x

[ImDONENoMore]

That's true - it is YOUR body - but it's also the well being of your unborn child.  And that is why it gets very "trick" to give you the kind of advice you're asking for (ie tapering schedules)  And I am VERY glad to hear you do have an appt. coming up - however I'm unclear - is a midwife a Dr.?  Not that it isn't a great place to get support, but can that person actually give you medical advice like a Dr. could?  Bear with my ignorance here!  :)

[hampton1982]

yes i do plan to spck to my doc i have midwife comeing round saturday. i just wanted some info of peoples personal experience on this matter as i know all docters suggest different things. i know the final decision is mine and i have to live whichever outcome happens. obviously i pray that i and my baby will be fine. i just want to hear peoples own personal experience and outcomes, how slow they tapered or weather they decided to stick with the methodone or whatever they done. and how it worked out for them. i am going to spck to my doc and will get professional advice but when it comes down to it it is my body that will have to go through this on my own and as i canot just think about myself i have to think about my baby too i just wanted to get some advice. if anyone can spare the time to give ther opinion i would be very very gratefull. thankyou for takeing the time to read and reply to my question you are all doing a great job and now i do not feel so alone xx

[sudie58]

please tell your dr. or midwife, i know your worried, but is honestly the best way, for you and your baby.  sudie

[IBKleen]

Hi,

We talked with you a few hours ago about talking with your OBGYN to get a proper taper schedule. We cannot provide you with any information about tapering--it is a violation of our guidelines. Even if it were not, no one should be giving you advise considering that you are pregnant. Honestly hun, you should not be doing this on your own--you have an unborn child to consider.

Please, please see your doctor and do this correctly.

[ImDONENoMore]

Have you spoken to your Dr. yet?  This isn't something you should do without medical assistance!