Pregnancy and prescriotion drug use?

[B0uche4624]

Hello all, I am very concerned about my present issue though I am too embarrased to talk to family, friends, or my doctor! I recently found out I was pregnant ( I am 7-8 weeks), I was prescribe oxycotins for a car accident 2 years ago and Xanax for high anxiety about a year and a half ago. I take my medicene on a daily basis thought I stopped cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant! Yes I am experiecing HIGH withdraw symptons BUT thats not my worry at all! I am worried about the defects, dangers and risk to my baby! I am too embarrased to talk to my OBGYN for the reason I'll be looked at as an unfit mother or just something that I don't want! As I said I was prescribed these medications from a doctor not buying illegally but I took them everyday! At 8 weeks along can there be defects? Any answers or comments would be greatly appreciated it! I looked everything up possible online BUT theres no timeline of when could defects be possible or what not! Is it from day one to week 40? Someone please help!!!

[JQ138]

I have been on narcotic pain meds for nine years now. I hurt my back and have had two back surgeries. I was scheduled for a third when the surgeon took an X-ray and discovered that I was 29 weeks pregnant. At the time I was on 30 mg of control release morphine 3x a day, 150mg of Lyrica 2x a day, 800mg of Metaxalone (muscle relaxer) 3x a day, 225mg of Effexor 1x a day and 40 mg of Desipramine (anti-depressant, for nerve pain) 1x a day. I immediately contacted my pain mgmt dr. to talk about what to do. I was panicking! What have these medications done to my unborn baby??? I weened myself off the desipramine within a week. I dropped down to taking the morphine 2x a day. I lowered the Lyrica slowly and gradually to 75mg 2x a day. With the Effexor I dropped from 225mg to 150mg for 2 weeks. Then went down to 75mg for another two weeks. Then I took 75 mg every other day for about 10 days. My back was hurting a lot more than usual of course but I did what I had to do for my baby. My dr. said the baby would probably be born with some withdrawal symptoms. My son showed signs of withdrawal about 24 hours after he was born. They put him in the NICU and started him on a standard dose of morphine to start weening him. I felt terrible. It was my fault that he was having to go thru this. He spent 4 days in the NICU hooked up to monitors to watch his respirations and heart rate. They are transferring him to the newborn nursery to continue to ween off the medicine but didn't need to be on the monitors anymore. They said he could be there anywhere from one to three weeks depending on his weight gain and tolerance of the decreasing doses of morphine. He was born 6lbs, 15oz and only 4 days before my due date.
I worry about long term side effects from these medications. Is my son going to have problems later on because I took these medications? No one can give me any answers because there really aren't any studies done on women taking pain medicine throughout their pregnancies.

[ali3674]

I am a social worker in a hospital....I too am trying to get pregnant, and I do have chronic pain and anxiety.  I do not take xanax, but I do take some pain meds at small doses.  Xanax is dangerous to take during pregnancy, I would taper immediately.  The less the better.  There are other things that are approved during pregnancy for anxiety, such as Zoloft.  Also, I spoke to a psychiatrist today at work who told me that pain meds are OK as long as they are at small doses.  Problem is, NO OB doctors will ever tell you that.....everyone I talk to tells you not to take ANYTHING while pregnant, but I truly believe that this is not all together true.  I would stop the xanax before the pain meds.

[LB5060]

Some pregnant women do have to take pain meds and it is relatively safe at very small doses.  I know, I know, everyone tells you to not even take a tylenol when pregnant but the honest fact remains that some women have so much pain from other issues that they have to remain on painkillers throughout the pregnancy....definitely not an ideal situation but it does happen.  I hope you are doing well now and congratulations both on your pregnancy and on quitting hte meds!

[B0uche4624]

I cannot stress how thankful I am that every replied so quickly and the encouragement for me to just tell my doctor! I quit cold turkey with both meds bout 2 weeks ago COMPLETELY! However, I did put on my papers that I was taking PRESCRIBED pain killers and anxiety medications but she seemed to overlook it like it was no big deal! I wanted to get other peoples opinions for the fact of embarrasement and maybe sopme answers with prior experience from other people! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

[TimmyVD]

This is by no means a "green light" to take xanax while pregnant but I took it with my daughter who is almost 3 and she is fine. If you need to know more about it you can PM me.

[wannawean]

Just wanted to say congratulations:)
I was taking xanax, and tramadol when I found out i was preg. I too am a RN. I knew the risks associated w/ going CT off the drugs. I did CT the xanax, which is risky, but it is a category D preg drug (only 1 category is worse). I did a very QUICK taper off the tramadol and swore I'd loose the baby due to the awful w/d from the tramadol:( I have been told that some local ob-gyn's are routinely doing drug screens early on in preg. Mine did not. I opted to not tell him because I didn't want it in my records that I had been on medication in case something unrelated and unforeseen happened w/ my preg I felt it may be a catch all for blame…It does happen.
Anything is possible but I think if you can stay off the meds your baby will be fine. We do have to take care of ourselves to have healthy babies so if you are feeling the need to discuss this w/your doc tell him the truth. There is absolutely nothing wrong w/that!!!

[Austin2008]

THe truth is and I know this from experience is that very littler but, most likely nothing can pass from you to the baby until there is a placenta that takes over, at 7-8 weeks there is not a fully functioning Placenta.  The fact that you have already quit the drugs is GREAT and as long as you stay clean your baby should have no adverse affects from the medicine you took....

However, you HAVE to stay clean and not go back Esp. while pregnant.  If you do and dont't disclose to your Dr. and the baby is born and test's positive for drugs that were not disclosed during pregnancy then the proper authorities can take the baby until you are clean...

It is not that I want to scare you but, also I kind of do, I don't want you to loose a second of your babies life because of a stupid rotten pill!!!

Stay clean sweetheart and enjoy your pregnancy and be PROUD of yourself for getting off that **** and never go back!!!!

Tracy

[avisg]

she needs to find that out ......

[joangy]

I think the risk for seizure is much less than the lifelong neurological risks to the baby

[joangy]

I understand that some make it, and that does not mean that everyone will- but I worked in labor and delivery (OBGYN) for over 4 years as a nurse and currently work as an emergency room nurse and I honestly think that her OB will advise her to quit - if she was taking less than 4mg per day.

Hopefully, she will speak with her OB soon :)

[GoingToMakeIt]

Because of the possibilities of seizures from going cold turkey off Xanax. Please taper TAPER. The other, Oxys, should be tapered also because of the pregnancy. Yes, some have done it and even made it ok. That does not mean everyone will.
Please talk with your OBGYN, they are very understanding.

As I read your post again, I am confused. It sounds like you have already quit c/t? Is this right? If so, how long ago did you quit?

[avisg]

You are right we are not doctors  .....I so understand you wanting to get right off it just plz get ah old of your doctor ASAP get his opinion he knows you and your medical history .Yes xanax is know to cause birth defects but we dont want to put you at risk either buy CT let us know what happens .one of our members is an obgyn nurse I massaged her I am sure she will post.

[joangy]

It really depends on how high the dose of xanax she was taking... if less than 4 mg per day she should quit without taper.

Xanax is a pregnancy category D meaning that it has very high potential for neurological effects on the baby- and the stage she is in now (the first trimester) is when the brainstem is developing... I would/did quit ct if at all possible.

Most definately, you should talk to your OB, since none of us on here are an OB doctor!

[avisg]

welcome,
First off you NEED to taper off of these meds. the xanax really needs to be tapered when you are pregnant .You are putting yourself at risk of miscarriage CTing it  .There is also the chance of sezuires going off of the xanax. CT.PLZ PLZ tell your doctor he NEEDS to know . There are some risks of xanax of birth defects but that does not mean it will happen .Work out a taper plan with your doctors to get off of both .I can't stress enough how important it is to be honest with your doctor .This happens often don't be embarrassed because you are doing something to get off of the meds be very proud of yourself for that. Let us know how things go.

[joangy]

There is always a possibility of the effects of the medicine on the baby, but if you are quitting now- it is highly unlikely that the baby will be effected.

I work as a nurse and have previously worked in labor and delivery, and I can tell you that the doctors have heard MUCH worse! I would for sure let your OB know just so that they can monitor the baby a little closer.  I have seen babies born to moms who have done methamphetamines on a daily basis without effects... but just stay away from the meds from now on.

btw... I went thru the same thing! When I found out I was pregnant (@ 6 wks) I was taking tyl/codeine and xanax on a daily basis and I quit cold turkey and I now have a healthy 16 month old son.  The motivation to quit is so much stronger when you have a baby growing inside you!!

Congratulations!