Methadone maintenance and pregnancy
Common Questions and Answers about Methadone maintenance and pregnancy
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Hi there. Are you under the care of an OBGYN right now? If so, what do they have to say about taking subs while pregnant? I don't know a lot about it, but I have heard that Methadone seems to be the preferred maintenance drug during pregnancy. That doesn't necessarily mean it's right for you though.
ve seen of fentanyl detox and my own year long, slow methadone recovery, I think fentanyl and methadone are only different in dosage. The full synthetic nature and side effects of both methadone and fentanyl make them very close tie for the worst detox ever. As I vomit and shat myself in my yard from methadone detox, I remember wishing I was a heroin or any other kind of addict. Anyway, mute point, but wanted to share.
How much and how long methadone use have you got under your belt bullseye?
Hi, I am on methadone maintenance I was with my first child and now I'm pregnant again and will be with this one. They strongly recommend that you continue the program while pregnant. It will not harm the baby, in fact trying to quit can put too much stress on your body and even cause miscarriage. The only Downfall Is That When The Baby Is Born they Could Potentially Have To Wean him/Her Off The Methadone So The Baby Would Stay In The Hospital For About A Week To detox.
You are still opiate dependent and if you continue to be on methadone through your pregnancy, your child will also be born opiate dependent. Your baby will be in withdrawals after birth and will have be spend time in the Neonatal ICU to go through those withdrawal. If you choose to nurse your baby while you are still on methadone, there have been documented cases of babies dieing due to respiratory suppression (they stop breathing).
I'm currently 8 weeks and 3 days pregnant and on methadone. How does the methadone affect my growing baby and what can I expect before and especially after delivery?
I would like to be off the ball and chain (methadone) for good by the time he comes home. Its expensive and ties you down, You cant travel and have to dedicate 3/4 of your time and planning to the program. Well anyhow, im still coming down 2 mgs daily stopping periodically so my body can catch up. Im looking for advice on getting through this a little easier. I have no experience with maintenance and the Dr.s are quick to tell you that you cant be successfull in doing it!
I have a few articles about pregnancy on methadone and on Subutex at my blog, Suboxone Talk Zone-- just go there and search for the posts about pregnancy and you should find them. I agree with the prior comment-- we don't know of serious problems from opiates in neonates. The worst part will likely be the judgmental attitudes you will be given by the hospital staff. As for the withdrawal, there are a couple things to remember.
I work at a MMT clinic (methadone maintenance) and we have had pregnant women on methadone who have delivered perfectly healthy babies.
Difference b/w methadone and other opiates is that on a stable dose (which differs for everyone), a pregnant woman (or any individual) is able to go 24 to 36 hours without having ANY physical withdrawals whereas with heroin and other opiates, the half-life is 4 to 6 hours so the individual experiences withdrawals unless they continuously use.
He went on methadone maintenance in July and it has taken him to his worst depths. He is still shooting drugs, is addicted to XANAX and anxiety pills. He will take a whole bottle at a time and is also drinking regularly. He has been hospitalized twice in the last month, picked up by police multiple times and has been near death at times. He is completely out of his mind.
Welcome to the forum---- I think the more important question is whether you really need the additional pain relief or or just wanting the effect of the additional Opiate. If you can withstand the pain by just taking your normal dose of Methadone, then don't take the Lortabs. Hope you will stay and post and read this site -- should you ever decide to come off of the Methadone, this is a great place to find help. All the best.
t stop I am 15 weeks pregnant and I was wondering if you know anyone who has taking this during the entire pregnancy and if so was it as bad for the baby as methadone withdraw or morphine withdraw is and i ask cause my dr wants me to go off the dilidid and onto methadone but I only take between 4-8 mg of dilidid a day and my bf is on methadone and I See what it does to him and I feel taking (methadone) that would a put more synthetic opiates into my body as I feel 4 -8mg a day is not worth go
All pregnant opiate-addicted women are advised to take methadone as a part of a medically supervised methadone maintenance treatment program. Methadone is currently the only medication approved for the addiction treatment of pregnant women who are addicted to heroin or other opiates.
The fetus feels withdrawal symptoms during pregnancy.
Stay on the pills until after you deliver, or go on methadone maintenance, which has a record of proven efficacy and safety for pregnant mothers. Only then, talk to your doctor about devising a tapering schedule for you to discontinue the pills.
In summation: as long as you aren't taking percocets or vicodins, they aren't dangerous to the baby (the opiate is non-toxic, the tylenol is EXTREMELY toxic). Withdrawal is MUCH MORE DANGEROUS to the foetus than addiction.
Your baby can be healthy if you continue methadone maintenance while you progress through your pregnancy. The only complication that has been found in medical studies is low birth weight and that only being a difference of a few ounces not pounds.
Speaking from experience I know your baby can be healthy and after you give birth your baby will be taken care of by a team of doctors and nurses by given something to calm the withdrawal symptoms.
I am big polar and on methadone maintenance while pregnant with my first child. My counselor really started making me feel bad about my mood stabilizer and the baby so I tried to go off of it. I relapsed and had 2 dirty tests at the methadone clinic at 27 weeks. I feel so awful and have been beating myself up about this. I literly cxabt sleep at. night. I keep hearing different things.. that youare OK if you and your baby is clean at the time.
t know anything about that, but you can look at your Incivek prescribing information, and it will tell you the effect of Incivek on Methadone. It may be that your maintenance dose may need to be adjusted slightly to accommodate for that effect.
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