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Suboxone Withdrawal while pregnant

I am 15 weeks pregnant.  I was taking suboxone for about a year.  I had the 8ml strips but I would cut and only take a quarter so probably 2ml.  Once I found out I was pregnant, I cut the strips into smaller pieces and 1 strip would last me about a week.  Yesterday was my first day not taking it and I let my OBGYN know I was taking and my concerns about stopping.  Everything I have read so far suggests that I shouldn't stop taking because the baby would go through withdrawals as well.  He didn't seem to know much about suboxone let alone suboxone while pregnant.  I let him know I was taking a small dose and he thinks the baby will be fine if I just go through the withdrawals now.  Is this okay?  I'd rather not take and cause risk of baby being addicted but I don't want to cause miscarriage due to withdrawal.  Also, everything i have read seems to be people that have been taking for a longer amount of time and a much larger dosage.  
Best Answer
480448 tn?1426948538
Did you JUST tell your doc you're on Sub or has he known this throughout the duration of your pregnancy?  Typically, women on Suboxone are usually switched to Subutex, as it's considered a little bit less risky (Subutex doesn't contain the Naloxone that Suboxone does).  

"I let him know I was taking a small dose and he thinks the baby will be fine if I just go through the withdrawals now. "

No, I disagree.  That's not the standard approach.  It could be that he thinks the dose is low enough that you won't experience bad w/ds but with Sub, that's usually not true.  Even coming off low doses, there is usually some level of w/d.

I would recommend trying to find an OB who is familiar with this.  Are you getting the Sub from a doc/clinic or off the streets?  If the latter, I would strongly advise you to get into a clinic to do this the right way.

Even though you're not taking a lot, it's not advisable to stop taking it abruptly.  W/D's can be dangerous during pregnancy.  You really need to be under the care of a doctor who is comfortable managing this for you.

Don't change anything (or stop taking it) until you can get in with a more experienced doctor.  Best of luck, let us know how you're doing, congrats on the pregnancy!  Is this your first?  Have you been taking part in any aftercare, like NA/AA or private addiction counseling?  If not, make that a BIG priority too, it's vital.
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1235186 tn?1656987798
Hi it's so good to hear from you Hun.
CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of your healthy son.
I am so proud of you for being honest with your doctor that produced the
Best possible outcome for your pregnancy and the birth of your son.
We thank you for coming back and giving us such  wonderful news.

CONGRATULATIONS on getting off the subutex. Have you been attending
Counseling or substance support groups to help prevent relapse?

Continued blessings,
Debbie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks to all for the advice and concern.  I had my son last year, 1/26/14.  He was/is a healthy boy.  I was taking 1, 2mg pill a day.  I'd talk half in the morning and the other half later in the day.  I was breastfeeding so I still didn't taper off.  I did stop breastfeeding for about a month now and was a little worried he may have a problem but all is good.  Thank you for giving me some place to go and talk since it's something I haven't talked about with anyone aside from my doctor.
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
That is great.. Good for you doing the work that was needed to find a doctor to help you during your pregnancy. You should so much better now mentally and physically.
So glad he switched you to subutex and told you not to taper.
That is the best and safest plan.
Thanks for the update. Check in once and awhile and let us know how you are doing.
Take care of you and your unborn babe.
Congrats on your pregnancy and your honesty with the doctors.
GOD bless,
Debbie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just an update.....I finally found a doctor that would see me.  I have had a real rough week trying to find a doctor.  Since I was on such a low dosage, I hadn't gone back to the doctor I was seeing and she was at her limit when I called so could not see me.  I tried several other doctors but they would not see me since I was pregnant.  I found a doctor yesterday and he has me on subutex now.  The plan is to take half a pill a day and see him again next month.  He didn't recommend stopping or tapering while I am pregnant but as soon as I have baby that is the plan.  Thank you for the help/advise.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
And I really don't have much of a choice on doctors.  I lost insurance and am now covered by Medicaid through the doc office.  Also not my first.  I have a 6 year old daughter but I was not taking anything when I was pregnant with her
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My doc really didn't seem to know anything and I did let him know what I had read online about stopping but he didn't seem concerned.  I was getting from a sub clinic but I have not been back since it was suggested I stop.  I am trying to find a OB in my area that does have expirence and knowledge but haven't had much luck.  I initially didn't tell my doc because I thought I was on a low enough dose to stop but when I did stop I did feel the symptoms of withdrawal in a day or 2 and by day 3 it was worse.  I have a friend that is taking so I was able to get half a strip from her and I cut it down to last me a few days but I'm back to none.  I will see if I can get an appt back with the sub doc I was using.  Thank you for all your comments and suggestions.  Worst of all I haven't told my boyfriend so he is in the dark about all this and I really don't want to tell him.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please avoid abruptly withdrawing, regardless of what trimester you're in...the best advice you can get would be from an OB who is experienced in this area.
Helpful - 0
4202953 tn?1377183506
I agree with finding a different doctor that has experience in dealing with this. Please do not go through w/ds and find a doctor/clinic and do it the right way. Congrats on the baby and good for you for being ready to get clean! You're going to be just fine. Please let us know how you're doing!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was on 8 mg of suboxone when I got pregnant.  I worked really hard and got down to 2 mg. for the duration of my pregnancy, oh and the dr. switched me to beupronorphine because some of the other ingredients in the suboxone can be worse for the baby than just the active one.  My son is PERFECT!!  and was not born with withdrawl syndrome.  I think he did experience some amount of discomfort but it wasn't noticable to the drs. (could have been my guilt telling me that).  Anyway, the best time to go off is 2nd trimester i.e. safest.  It was too hard for me, all the drs. said I was on a low dose so it was fine.  I would continue to taper if I were you, you still have time.  I know you want what's best!  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm with nursegirl, don't stop, even at 1mg. Think about this, 1mg of Suboxone is similar to 40mgs of morphine or 60 mgs hydrcodone. Your doctor wouldn't have you stop those drugs at those doses, not pregnant. Your doctor is guessing, don't follow a guess with you or our baby. I have never met a doctor who I trust that says detox from opiates would be fine while pregnant. Find a GOOD Sub doctor, get another opinion, and don't change anything for now. In my Addiction Therapy classes, we studied the clinical research on opiate withdrawal while pregnant vs. taking methadone or other long acting opiates. Some studies showed as high as 50% chance of miscarriage or brain damage from detox. Less than 1% of pregnancies on a stable dose had any birth defects, specifically from opiates. That's too big a chance to take. If your child has to detox when born, that is not do bad, babies recover fast , that's better than living with mental illness or retardation, trust me, I know. I 've lived in addiction and mental illness. I wish I could have detoxed and been healthy. Think seriously about this, and make an educated decision.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh man. That's a tough one I think you've been weining your self off pretty well I would cont that over the next week or 2.
That way you aren't putting stress on yourself. Hopefully someone will come on here soon and might know better what to do!
Good luck and congrats. Keep posting here everyone is so supportive and helpful!
Helpful - 0
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