32 weeks pregnant and tapering off Subutex...

[Carmen711]

I'm 31 weeks pregnant and I refuse to give birth on Subutex.. I just moved here to Tennessee and the laws here are different, they can arrest you is you give birth to a baby on Subutex regardless if it's proscribed!! And besides I been wanting to come off before I found out I was pregnant but just been so depressed and emotional.. Ok so I was on a low dose to begin with when I first found out I was pregnant and since then I've tapered down to about .5mg a day!!! You think I'm ready to jump off?? My doctor said as long as I fell ok, I can quit.. MY new OB here in Tennessee doesn't know I'm on Subutex.. For fear they can arrest me! I know it's crazy right! You can look it up under "Tennessee Pregnancy Law".. It's bad..
And since I just moved here to Tennessee from Florida I already had a treatment plan and already  decided  to taper off Subutex since I'm on such a low dose and very healthy and everything is coming back normal with my pregnancy.. I want to stop taking this subs.. My doctor said as long as I feel okay.. And I think I'm ready.. Just looking for support from someone who has done it, got off Subutex on a low dose?? Again I'm only on .5mg sometimes I think it may be less than that.. Maybe it's all in my head..
Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated! Thanks

[pillguy]

Quitting Subs isn't easy.  Nicely done!

[Carmen711]

Ok so I lowered myself even more since I posted the first time to .25mg every other day, and today is going to be the first start of me skipping two days then three days then 4 days , and then I'm done!!! And by then it will be my next prenatal visit with my doctor and he will see if everything is ok.. Thank you all for your post and awesome comments! Y'all been so nice.. I will update every once in a while.. Until my daughter is born and let y'all know how it goes!!

[pillguy]

Keep us updated on your progress :-)

Cheers,

[clean_in_ks]

What a happy outcome to read this morning!!

Isn't it amazing when we are open and honest how REWARDING it feels?

I'm so happy to hear of all your doctors supporting you, your call to your new OB office and all the support you have in place.

Please be sure and let us know how you're doing.....and we'd LOVE to hear about your new little one when he/she arrives!!

[Carmen711]

Yes, I was very nervous but once I got it all out I felt so much better!! And they were actually so happy that I decided to taper off before the baby is here!! To my surprise, they actually supported my  decision  To taper off before the baby is here.. They said it's dangerous to taper off early In your pregnancy and because I'm so healthy and all my prenatal test of the baby came back normal , they told me I should be fine!! So I'm so relieved.. And by the time I go in for my next visit on October 14th, I should be completely tapered off!!!! :-).  
And they will check the baby and make sure she is fine.. Thank you again for all your support and comments!! And  encouraging words , you've really helped me in so many ways and I thank you for that!! Haha!!! I'm crying and I don't know why, darn pregnancy hormones LOL..
God Bless

[Frogger76]

So proud of you for making that phone call! I know your were probably nervous, but your putting your little one first, and I commend you for that. Take care...

[Carmen711]

Thanks so much for your post!! Yeah I'm definitely going to do the skipping days rout especially now that I'm doing my taper while pregnant!! And I even called my sub doctor and told him what I'm doing and he agreed that if that's best then go for it.. It's all on how I feel.. Today is my first day I'm skipping so tomorrow I'll dose the .25mg then skip two days, then skip 3 and 4 days and hopefully be completely off by next week.. I also called my doctor here in Tennessee and even tho I couldn't talk to my OB I talked to the  nurse and gave her a heads up.. So in my next appointment they will check and make sure that my baby is still doing well.. So I'm doing lots of praying and I have my hubby's support and a few in a NA meeting I go to.. But thanks for sharing your story!!! It gives me so much hope!!! Bless your heart and I pray you keep going strong on your recovery..

[pillguy]

I used Suboxone for two years.  Started at 4mg (My Doc would have given me 8mg)  I tapered down to .25mg over about 6 months.  I had moderate/mild WDs  (Yea, what's a 'mild' WD?!).  They lasted about a week +
I had the hated depression bad for about 1 month and to a lessor degree the second month.  After that, its been real good.  My conections were all gone by the time I tapered so I haven't really been tempted.  Its been almost 8 months  now since I stopped the Subs.

I can't say too much about tapering or my post will be deleted.  When I went through WDs, I thought maybe I should have gone down to .125mg.  I've read about skipping days at the end.  :-))  Good idea.  

You are going to make it.  Its moderatly uncomfortable, not impossible.

[addlover]

You've got a great attitude towards this. And that is half the battle
Yes, I finally beat the suboxone beast. But took me a very very long time. But God willing I'll stay strong. It's not easy, it's an every day battle, that I hate. I wouldn't wish drug addiction on anyone. Only the strong survive,  not necessarily thrive.
Those women in my group are my heros.  There's strength in numbers. Weather it be church, addiction group, mom's group. Find a support group. I was never much of a joiner, but that's what saved me. I found like minded women and like minded Christian folks.
I'll say it again, I'm proud of you

[atthebeach]

Carmen sadly most docs are oblivious to proper tapers and the actual withdraw detox process.
subs are very strong so even though.5 sounds like a small dose in subs you can yes go even lower. You have done really great with your taper.
Subs stays in your system for many weeks after you stop taking it.
It has a long half life. Your last post is how many ppl do taper at the end.

[Carmen711]

Oh and you were right about searching online and I found people even women who are pregnant and tapered successfully!!! And your SO right!!! They jumped off at even a lower dose than .5mgs!! They jumped off at .25mgs and skipped days. First one day and dosed .25mg then skipped two days and dosed , then skipped 3 days and so on.. And since I took .25mg yesterday I'm going to try the skipping days just to be extra careful and continue to taper slowly!! They even said that some doctors even though they mean the best, they under estimate Subutex proper taper.. And I don't want to go through preterm labor.. So I'm definitely going to do the skipped days rout LOL... So hopefully I'll be completely off by next week.. Thanks again for all your help!!! Your the best!!!

[Carmen711]

Thank you so much for sharing your story.. I'm sorry you had trouble, and hope and pray you managed to overcome that.. I am so determined to stop.. Yesterday was my last dose.. And yes I still talk to my doctor in Florida, he has phone  sessions with me  :-). And I still have enough if I feel any discomforts at all.. So far today I feel great.. Just scared you know.. I refuse to give birth on Subutex!!! I can't imagine my baby going threw withdrawals.. My baby  deserves better than that !! And with that in mind and with that keeping me strong I plan to keep going threw with it.. Since I'm on my 3rd  trimester I am seeing a doctor every two weeks and a specialist every week here in Tennessee and so far everything is perfect and my baby is normal as can be.. Heart rate normal.. You told me that you know women who were pregnant and tapered successfully while pregnant and I plan to be another.. Thank you for this encouragement.. And for taking the time to answer.. God Bless..

[addlover]

Ok , you're right, I did read it wrong. You want to come off regardless of laws and such. Ok sorry, I reread it. Ok, my story is Slightly different but I'll still give it to ya. I was on subutex for my entire pregnancy,  dr prescribed and monitored. Low dose, made no difference, my baby still went through withdrawal. He was in nicu for 7 days and sent home on methadone. I tried to taper, but I'm a puss,  couldn't do it.  You can my friend. It can be done. I was in a group. And several women tapered and had success. I'm very proud of you for doing this. I wish you could be dr monitored. But it is what it is. Just research the heck out if it. Hydrate and rest and stay strong. Can you still talk to your fl doc. Maybe he or she can help guide you. Hang in there and private message me if you need anything at all
I can't relay enough how proud I am of you

[Carmen711]

Thanks so much from your response.. Why would my doctor tell me it's ok to jump off at .5mg?? If it is still a high dose.. Should I call him and see if I need to break it even smaller?? Yesterday was supposed to be my last dose and I broke the .5mgs even smaller and took it.. Oh yeah, I was taking.5mgs once a day so that's a really small crumb.. Now I'm so worried from what you have told me.. Why would a  licensed professional give me a misleading taper plan if it's not safe.. My mined is blown away.. And as far as telling my new OB here, I will tell him and maybe he can work with my doctor in Florida.. Thank you so much for you help and comments..

[Carmen711]

And I am on a treatment plan.. You see I just moved from Florida and there I was on treatment and prescribed Subutex.. And go to  counseling .. I have a treatment plan.. And before I got pregnant I was already working something out ( a plan to taper off from 4mg a day, 2mg in the am and 2mg at night).. Threw out the months I have tapered as low as (.5mg) a day.. That's like a crumb of a 8mg tablet or half of 1mg how ever you want to look at it.. Now my doctor gave me enough medication to be able to come off this month. I just moved to Tennessee two weeks ago.. And my OB in Florida along with my doctor/  psychiatrist, have gave me the ok to come off the Subutex and this very low dose., I'm just scared and want support from someone who has done it before.. I'm all alone here and no one to talk to..

[atthebeach]

Hello and welcome. .5mgs of sub is too high to jump from especially
Being pregnant. Could cause pre mature labor.
any drug that has been ingested from 16 weeks in utero can be detected
In the meconium (baby's first pooh).
Hun you lived in another state your whole pregnancy. You are prescribed
The subutex. You aren't doing anything wrong.
I think it would also only apply to non prescribed drugs and street drugs.
I too believe you need to talk to your ob.
God bless.

[Carmen711]

You must of read my post wrong and I'm sorry.. I was on 4mg of Subutex when I found out I was pregnant.. I have tapered to .5mg a day sometimes less than that.. And that's the lowest your supposed to take before coming off.. I'm just looking for support from someone who has tapered off of Subutex.. Just scared..

[addlover]

Hello, congratulations on your pregnancy and taper. From what I read on the Tennessee pregnancy law applies to women who are taking illegal drugs not for women in a program. Or on prescribed narcotic

[Frogger76]

Sorry, I meant to say: that's a high dose of sub to just jump from. Sorry about that, I'm still half asleep. Coffee time!!!

[Frogger76]

I saw this new law on the news, I personally don't agree with it. IMO, it only discourages women from seeking prenatal care. Look, I know your scared and worried, but you really need to tell your dr. That's a high dose of sub to just from. Subs need to be tapered very slowly. Every ounce of wds you endure, your little one will too. You'd be okay, but your baby may not be.  Your at 31 weeks, and with all the screenings they do on newborns nowadays I really think it's best for you to come clean to your dr ASAP.   Trust me, your dr has heard it all before. They can recommend a treatment program, which according to this new law, may help you avoid jail time.

Please talk with your dr.  now, don't put it off any longer. Please keep us updated! Sending prayers your way! Take care and good luck...