Is it more beneficial to continue or stop prescription drugs during first trimester of pregnancy?

Question

I have been or prescribed ritalin 30mgs daily, Clonazepam 3mg daily, and 20mgs of methadone daily for years. I just found out my husband and I are expecting a baby. I have read conflicting letters on the pros and cons of continuing my meds or reducing them. I always thought you should refrain from anything potentially harmful to the fetus. Suffice it to say, I did go through two days of hell coming off so I started weaning now with vicoden. What is the best for baby?

Answer 1

Apart from the "ask your doctor" obvious answer, you can probably do a little useful research on those at http://motherisk.org/. I _think_ they have a number you can call with questions. NB: In Canada, so probably long-distance, but also probably worth it; Sick Kids is very highly regarded, and this sounds like the sort of thing you'd want as many opinions on as possible.

Ah, wait. Here:

"Motherisk's Home Line - [phone] - for information about the risk or safety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal products, chemicals, x-rays, chronic disease and infections during pregnancy. [This is a toll call to our Toronto call centre. Callers may have to wait up to 10 minutes to speak to a counsellor.]"

Please note that anybody slagging you off lives in a rural area, goes for a daily swim, eats naught but the most healthful, organic foods, would never consider taking so much as a Tylenol, etcetera, etcetera. They are all in perfect health, and would not consider pregnancy on any class 'C' drugs like asthma inhalers. Oh, and they certainly never did so much as drink a beer before becoming pregnant; every one of their pregnancies was planned at least a year in advance, and...

...good luck!

Answer 2

The meds you are taking are for your mental stability. I would NOT recommend stopping them until you have talked to your OB. It is true that what you take, your baby will "take" too. What you and your doctor need to decide is if the risks to the baby outweigh the benefits to you. I have 4 kids and took Prozac with all 4 pregnancies. I know that the meds could have affected the babies, but if I did not take them, I would not have been able to get out of bed. My depression is severe and I had to decide if the risk to my baby from the meds was bigger than the risk from my emotional turmoil. Some doctors believe that a mother's mental and emotional state can affect a fetus just as much as medications can. Bottom line...stay on the meds until you can talk to your OB-and psychiatrist if you have one.

Answer 3

The BEST thing for baby is to get an IMMEDIATE appt with your doctor or OBGYN....obviously some medications are not good for your baby but neither is immediately discontinuing medications without being under the supervision of your doctor.

I was on adderall and paxil when I found out I was pregnant. I called the OBGYN that day and told them the medicine I was on and that I needed an appt right away to discuss this...they will get you in quickly when it comes to medication. I do know, that my doctor advised me to take the medicine following her directions...and NOT to suddenly quit or change dosage without her supervision. She gave me very strict instructions on weaning myself off the medicine by slowly decreasing the dosage.

You must, must, must talk to a doctor BEFORE changing your meds...again, call your OBGYN and tell them your situation...I got an appt within 48 hours...they will squeeze you in!

Answer 4

Ritalin is classified as a C...so should not be taken unless benefits far outweigh the risks.


Methadone is classified as a B....BUT would be a D if used for long periods of time or high dosages...so would probably be best if you went off it.


Clonazepam is also classified as a C.

Answer 5

What's best for the baby is for it's mother to stay healthy, taking highly addictive prescription drugs like vicoden to "wean" yourself off of others is just ridiculous. Instead of asking ridiculous questions on the web, contact your doctor immediately, you should have done so the moment you found out you were pregnant. Combining drugs, discontinuing drugs, drugs, drugs, drugs, SAY NO TO DRUGS! I understand some drugs are necessary and prescriptions drugs are a valued medical asset, but come on, methadone, daily, for years, you need help.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

You should make an appointment with you doctor ASAP to discuss this. Avoid websites as the knowledge is so vast and it is difficult to find credible information. Some meds are safe during pregnancy, others harmful. So please discuss this with your doctor in order to make an informed decision.

Answer 8

before taking any of your meds. you should ask your doctor, you have to remember what you intake your baby is going to take the same. I would stop taking them until you have permission from your doctor.

Answer 9

talk to your ob. some meds are fine and you may do more harm toyourself to go off of them. i had a friend you was bi-polar and just stopped her meds cold turkey and ended up in the psyc ward. please talk to your doc. good luck and mostly congrats.

Answer 10

before taking anymore meds consult doctor