Lortab/hydrocodone addiction and pregnancy?

Question

i am 33 weeks pregnant. Have been prescribed lortab in various strengths for the past year for nueropathy. I sometimes would take up to 12 per day of 5 mg or 6 -8 10 mg. I also have depression (sometimes i think from the narcotic addiction) and have been taking effexor 225 mg and zoloft 50 mg. daily i am 4 weeks from dellivery and have gone cold turkey from all meds the last 3 days. today seems to be the worst. I am throwing up constantly and feel as though i am not getting enough oxygen in my head (feel floaty??). I cannot tell my doctors of my problems because I am too embarassed and do not want them to think of me as an addict (which I am). i have beat alcohol, cigarettes, food over the years so I know I can do this too. my question is how long will i feel this way? I don't think the baby is in any danger as she is still moving lots and I have a doppler that I check her heartbeat with that is normal. Any insight?

Answer 1

Withdrawal effects can last for several weeks, especially going cold turkey. I agree with the other person who answered that you really should talk to your doctor, for the sake of your baby. I am going to give you suggestions that will help ease the withdrawal symptoms. But my number one suggestion is to talk to your doctor.

Here is what I suggest to get you over the worst part of the withdrawals.

The following treatment will help you not go through such agony as you withdraw from the medication.

To help with the withdrawals take hot bathes with 2c. of dissolved Epsom salts and soak for 30 minutes. The skin is the biggest organ of elimination and this will help pull out the drugs. Use a loofa to clean the pores and this will help pull the drugs out even faster.

Drink lots of water and 2c. a day of fresh carrot juice, to flush the medicine out of your liver. You can take 500mg of calcium and magnesium twice a day to help you relax. Drink chamomile tea throughout the day and evening to help you stay relaxed.

Use a powdered fiber supplement twice daily to pull the drugs out of your intestines where they can store.

Two of the questionnaires in this forum did follow this program to withdraw from drugs and it did help. I've enclosed a link where you can read their response to this program.

If you have any further questions please let me know,
Bille77

Answer 2

oh honey , yes. you need to call your doctor and be totally frank with them. although I do so much commend your wish to drop all the drugs, this might not have been a good time to decide to go cold turkey. with four weeks from delivery, you might bring on a labor that your not ready for.

the key to remember when your pregnant, what you feel, your baby feels. if your sick, your baby is sick. I have hda 4 children, and was a member of the la leche league for many years.
I do so much want you to know that I think it is a good idea for your to attempt to quit what you are taking at some point, however, if you have already been taking these things during your pregnancy, your child has ingested what you have ingested and may be experiencing the same withdrawals that you are.

the up side to being open and honest with your doctor is that there are alternative drugs that can be taken to ease your pain and to ease what your child may be going through, or at least will alert them to any possible dangers that might be brought on by your going cold turkey.
I wish you well and a wonderful experience in your child birth.
now, tell your doctor. there is no shame in being a human with failings. we are all subject to not always making good decisions in life. it's part of our humaness.

Answer 3

For the sake of your baby you have to put your pride aside and tell the doctor so that they can be prepared at the delivery if the baby has any withdrawal or complications from these substances.

Answer 4

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. Tell your doctors, they need to know, and any drug use during pregnancy can harm the baby. They will be able to help you with your addiction and monitor your baby for stress and withdrawl. If you're addicted, your baby may be addicted. When my youngest was born, the cord was wrapped around his neck, the doctor caught it, and he didn't strangle himself during delivery but I didn't get to hold my baby, he was blue and they took him away to give him oxygen. Thanks to my OB and the nursing staff my son is a healthy and happy 9 year old. I can't tell you how scared I was when they didn't give me my baby right away, I can't imaging having to go through something like that KNOWING that I kept important information from my doctors. For your sake and the sake of your child start getting help now.

Answer 5

PLEASE FOR YOUR SAKE AND YOUR BABY'S SAKE GO TELL YOUR DOCTORS. Get an advocate! Get an addiction counsellor's help! Get well soon!