Methadone: Methadone Detox Facts

Question: Dose anyone know about methadone and pregnancy?

(Posted by: mandy on 2010-01-10 18:58:54)

I am 4 week pregnant and i am on 5.5mg is this safe while i am pregnant they put me down today while i am pregnat i am worryed

Posted by: Zeb on 2010-01-10, 19:05:46

There is methadoneandpregnancy.com you baby may need a detox but then should be OK, good luck!

Posted by: ♥ on 2010-01-10, 20:23:09

I watched a tv show called Im pregnant and addicted and she took it throughout her pregnancy and after her baby was born they had to keep her in the hospital for awhile because of the detox. ill try to find the link for that show i cant find the link, but its on TLC (discovery health)

Posted by: emmeline on 2010-01-11, 05:50:14

Methadone is the recommended treatment for opioid dependent pregnant women. It has been rigorously tested and does not harm the newborn, i.e., it does not cause birth defects either mental or physical. It CAN possibly cause NAS, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, when the baby is born if the mom is still taking methadone at the time of birth but this can be easily controlled and treated in the hospital and the baby kept comfortable while tapering down. It is NOT advised to stop methadone treatment during pregnancy as this can cause serious problems up to and including the death of the baby.

Posted by: ruthiepoo on 2010-01-11, 05:54:50

I was on methadone maintenace for opiate addiction (I was addicted to prescription pain killers) during my second pregnancy. (the first I am ashamed to say, I abused the pain meds through) I was on a dose of 70mg a day methadone and each week starting about the 4 mth of pregnancy, we would decrease my dose by 5mg to try and get me down to as low as I could stand. I was able to get down to 35mg daily and my son was born fine with no problems and did not have to stay any more time in the hospital than any other babies. I also knew another girl at the MMT clinic who was only able to get down to 65mg and she and her baby were fine too. That is not to say that there won't be some problems with withdrawals for your baby, but if you are taking methadone for an opiate addiction, the methadone is far safer than putting your baby through the ups and down of an addiction. My first son has no lasting problems, but because of my addiction, he was born 6 wks early and there was meuconium in the water when it broke. I firmly believe this is because of the withdrawals that I kept putting him under. I know how awful some of you who haven't suffered w/ addiction are probably thinking I am, but it was something I could not stop. Thankfully, God had mercy on my innocent victims and neither one of my boys have had any probs from what I did. They are now 10 and 9 yrs old. Good luck and please check out this site medicalassistedtreatment.org they have a section on methadone use and pregnancy