Doc said "oaky to take pain meds"

**magtech** · 06-17-2008, 12:59 PM

My pain managment doctor told me today that it was"perfectly fine for me to take my vicodin throughout my oregancy!" I am only five weeks along and I was very very shocked that he said this to me. I stoped cold turkey and haven't went back to it even though I am so miserable I could cry. I was wondering if any of you ladies have heard this from your pain managment doctor. My obgyn told me to stay away from it if possible, so that is what I am doing. I am so confused as to why he said itt was fine, everything that I read says it's not???

**crkshnks79** · 06-17-2008, 01:47 PM

Dear Mag , there are some drugs that dont pass thru the placenta barrier , Im not sure if vicodin is one of them ??? When I was pregnant my one wisdon tooth broke and my OB told me it was ok to get it pulled and take the percocet , because I was in my second trimester . He said that he wouldnt suggest it for my first or third trimester but it was fine to take it in my 2nd . He also gave me florcet for my headaches during my pregnancy , which is made of tylenol , caffeine and a barbituate ( sedative ) . I did take some of those because I had such headaches I couldnt see or lift my head . Its what you feel comfortable with , I doubt if you take some infrequently that it wont hurt your baby , BUT YOU HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE W IT. I googled vicodin and pregnancy together and found that there is no diagnostic proof that is harmful to the baby , but there was also not alot of studies done on this either . I do know that some narcotics can cause breathing difficulties for the baby if taken in the third trimester , but again theres not alot of info on whether or not vicodin does this ??? I have a friend who has bad back problems , pregnancy makes it so much worse , she took during her last 2 pregnancies , extended morphine release tablets and break thru meds and her children are fine ... personally Id be afraid to take all of that while I was pregnant . Your best bet is too research the hell out of it and talk extensively to your ob about it , then make your decision . Good luck !!! And I hope you feel better !!!

**IC SARAH-CPP** · 06-18-2008, 07:44 AM

I have known women who took vicodin/percocet during pregnancy, under a doctors supervision. One girlfriend had such severe pain her doc told her it was worse for the baby if she didn't take it because it was causing such stress on him. He is a VERY bright little boy now and also an incredible athlete. Top student in his class every single year. She didn't take anything with his older brother and he is a problem child, lol! go figure!

I think like Lauren said, it is up to you and what you feel okay with. I think the "hard" evidence is pretty slim on whether it harms the baby or not. I also looked it up and couldnt find one study that said it was harmful. Kinda weird they haven't done more research on that, huh?

Congrats on your pregnancy! That is wonderful news.

Sarah

**Krisi** · 06-18-2008, 08:57 AM

I had a preconception councilling meeting with an OB that I am thinking about using when I become pregnant. In that meeting I asked her what they would do if I was in extreme pain and she said they would give me a narcotic. The only thing that might be a concern is in the third trimester, but your doctors would know more about that. In fact you can see a maternal fetal medicine specialist if you are not comfortable with your OBs answer.

I don't know what I will do when I get pregnant because vicodin makes me sick even with phenegran. Also, it really doesn't seem to help.

**magtech** · 06-21-2008, 05:06 AM

Hi everyone- since I stoped taking all my pain meds when I found out I was prego- I had horrible withdrawls and insomnia for about 4 days. The good news is that it is MUCH better now.The pain is still very much a factor but my OB dr. told me to take tylenol pm, and one benadryl together. It does help, not as good as pain meds, but I feel that atleast I feel like that is much better than taking vicodin every day. She did tell me that if I HAD to take it, it probably woulnd't really hurt as long as I didn't take it freqnetly. I am so paranoid about taking anything this being my very first preg. and all I am very nervous and anxious.
Does anyone take atarax, this is something I need to check out to see if it is okay to take??? Also the prenatal vitamins are killing my bladder- does anyone know if there is a certain brand that is better for women like us???
Thank-you, God Bless you and your babies!

**Berkshire Road** · 06-21-2008, 08:15 AM

That's funny -- tylenol pm and benadryl are the same drug.

**magtech** · 06-21-2008, 08:54 AM

Hi, I think that my dr. wanted me to take tylenol pm for the pain relief, and then the benadryl for an extra dose of diphenhydramine, she told me this becasue if I took 3 tylenol pm it could be damaging because of the acetamenophine, so giving an extra benadryl would be okay.

**Krisi** · 06-23-2008, 12:03 AM

I take Rainbow Light - Just Once - Prenatal One. They seem to work fine for me plus they are like 100% natural. Anyway it doesn't bother my stomach or cause any of those other problems that a lot of them cause people.

***ICNDonna*** · 06-23-2008, 02:35 AM

Tylenol PM contains tylenol plus the same med as benadryl --- benadryl doesn't contain tylenol. They have one ingredient in common but are not 100% the same.

Donna

**traceann** · 06-23-2008, 04:30 AM

I went off hydroxyzine (Atarax/Vistaril) when hubby and I decided to try to conceive, as it's a class C drug, usually a no-no during pregnancy

**sherry6** · 07-02-2008, 11:44 AM

percocet and vicodin are two of the oldest and most used drugs during pregnancy. Pregnant women have been taking them forever, without problems, which is why they are prescribed so often for pregnant women. They just haven't done many actual studies. As a rule, people don't like using pregnant women as guinea pigs

Barbituates have been shown to be detrimental to the fetus. (That is why I couldn't take fioricet in my first trimester)The same cannot be said with narcotics. The only problem is that you can become addicted. So, infrequent use of vicodin doesn't bother me a bit.

You may want to check on the use of hydroxyzine in the second trimester. I know it is a first trimester no no, but some studies I have read suggest that it could be harmless in your second trimester and beyond. That is what I am looking into right now. I think it could really help.

Don't torture yourself if you don't have to! But, you do have to make sure you are comfortable with what you are taking. Good luck!