OxyContin and Pregnancy - Pain Management Message Board

suewaz · 08-01-2008, 12:48 PM

I am new to the pain management board, but I am hoping to find someone who might be able to relate to my situation. I am 32 weeks pregnant. Back in my 25th week I was hospitalized for severe pain on my left side. After a couple of days, they determined that it was most likely due to my fibroids and something I may have to deal with for the remainder of my pregnancy. While in the hospital, they had me on a Fentanyl drip. I was discharged with a prescription to Percocets. I was taking too many of these a day (aspirin), so they then changed my prescription to Oxycodone. These are being prescribed by my OB-GYN. After a few weeks, she thought it would be best for me to see a pain management specialist since I was still in pain and taking a good amount of meds (10/day - 5 mg each). The pain management doc switched me to OxyContin. I have never taken this before. I started at 30mg 2x per day, and was upped pretty quickly to 40mg 2x per day. Although it does not always last the 12 hours, I have not changed my dosage. I am extremely concerned about the baby, but without the pain medicine I wouldn't be able to function daily, go to work, clean, etc. I know that the drugs are passing through to the placenta, and I know that the baby may suffer from withdrawals when born if I do not quit before then. The pain management doc does not think there is anyway I can quit (he also thinks the pain is pregnancy related but due to nerve damage rather than the fibroids) before delivery since the pain will continue to get worse up the date of delivery. This is not really something an expectant mom wants to hear, but at least he is being honest. I know I need to talk more with by OB-GYN about what is going to happen when delivery time comes. Is there anyone on the board who took pain meds during pregnancy? Can you share your experiences with me? How was the baby when s/he was born? I get very depressed when I think about the fact that my baby is probably going to come out screaming and crying for weeks going through withdrawals. I just don't know what to do.

Aver00 · 08-01-2008, 01:17 PM

Of course it is not the best thing for your baby but I have worked with moms about this very issue -withdrawal itself for the baby will not be weeks, more like 3-6 days - there may be other issues to deal with but the withdrawal itself is manageable - my own daughter got pregnant (against mom and docs advice) and she has severe lupus - she was on oxycontin 40mg tid -her baby was born prematurely at 29 wks and had some respiratory issues but as far as we could tell did not have withdrawal issues - the only person that has had any residual problems from the pregnancy is my daughter - she has gotten extremely ill due to stress of pregnancy with lupus, had a husband that just "could not take" her being sick all the time and left and my husband and I have adopted this wonderful girl that is now 4 years old
when babies do have withdrawal issues, there are all kinds of things they can do for the baby - they can put them on paregoric and wean them down slowly - it depends on what the baby needs - like I said not the best for the baby to be born addicted but this is manageable
I think the important thing is that you are being treated as a high risk pregnancy and that the baby be born in a facility with a Neonatal intensive care unit
the great thing about coming to this forum is that your baby will have the prayers of dozens of people - I will definitely be praying for you and your baby and please keep us posted as to how you are doing
you are in my prayers and there are other people cmpgirl, brian, steve, Ex, chrissy, izzy and dozens more (feel like one of those people at award shows that cannot remember all of the all stars here) that will by your side
huggs Aver

suewaz · 08-01-2008, 02:21 PM

Aver - Thank you so much for reply. I am sorry to hear about your daughter. She is lucky to have great parents. It must have been hard to go through that situation. Her little girl is very lucky to have guys too.

I will be sure to see ask my OB-GYN if the hospital has a NICU. That is a very good point. I am going to see her tomorrow for the first time in a while, so I have all kinds of questions for her. I am already high risk due to blood pressure, gestational diabetes, the fibroids, and lupus (no symptoms yet for me but they were afraid of issues because I was pregnant - so far so good).

I was happy to hear that the withdrawals would not last as long as I thought, but of course, I do not want the baby to suffer at all which is probably unrealistic at this point. I am hoping that since I did not take the meds throughout the whole pregnancy there might be some chance that everything will be OK, but I am planning for the worse.

Thank you for your prayers, I will definitely keep in touch.

Sammiejoe · 08-01-2008, 04:08 PM

Sue,
Congrats on your baby...I wanted to ditto what aver said and add that I, also, took percocet during my last pregnancy and my child is perfect and she's 8 now. I can relate to your being afraid about the baby being born addicted, but in my dtrs case, she was born perfect with no sign of withdrawal. The other thing is that you should not just stop taking your Oxy because that can bring on early labor, so even mothers addicted to heroin are put on methadone during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage/premature birth. As aver mentioned, paragoric can be given if any sign of withdrawal is noticed i.e; baby crying constantly, agitated.

I did wean down on my percocet during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, but I was still taking a few 5mg pills daily before birth. I had terrible kidney stones and a disc problem in my back with nerve damage, so I know what your going through. Please don't worry, but ask questions and relate any concern you have to your OB.

Good luck

Aver00 · 08-01-2008, 06:59 PM

SamJo is absolutely correct do not just stop your medication - just stay in contact with you doc
huggs Aver