Is it okay to take Oxaydo while pregnant?
Oxaydo is a combination medication that treats chronic pain when other pain medications do not work. The active drug in Oxaydo is oxycodone, an opioid narcotic. This classification gives Oxaydo a high risk for misuse and addiction.
If a pregnant woman experiences severe pain and needs to take Oxaydo she should discuss the potential risks with her doctor. Most opioids affect the fetus differently depending on the trimester and other factors, however, Oxaydo has an increased risk for birth defects as well as an opioid withdrawal in the fetus. You should also discuss with your doctor any risks of breastfeeding while using Oxaydo. This medication can be passed into breast milk and may increase your baby’s risk of opioid dependence if they ingest it.
Will taking Oxaydo cause birth defects?
Like other opioids, Oxaydo increases the risk for birth defects, primarily with the heart. A baby will develop most of its major organs and limbs within the first 12 weeks (first trimester), and it is during this time that a baby is most susceptible to abnormalities caused by medications.
Oxaydo is most likely to cause heart abnormalities, such as Tetralogy of Fallot, a defect in which the heart has a hole between the lower chambers, has an obstruction to the lungs, and the lower right heart chamber becomes enlarged. Ventricular septal defects and pulmonary valve stenosis, a condition that reduces the blood flow to the lungs, are also common in babies exposed to Oxaydo before birth.
Other potential adverse health effects are:
- Glaucoma
- Spina bifida
- Hydrocephalus (fluid in a baby’s brain)
- Gastroschisis (baby’s abdominal wall has a hole)
It’s important to discuss with a doctor the possible risks associated with Oxaydo during pregnancy.
Babies born addicted to Oxaydo
If an expectant mother is struggling with Oxaydo addiction, her addiction could be passed on to the baby. Opioids are absorbed through the placenta, exposing the fetus to the drug. When this happens, a fetus will often develop neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), or opioid addiction, which causes the baby to have withdrawal syndromes due to sudden stoppage of Oxaydo.
Several factors contribute to the severity of the withdrawal symptoms, like how often the drug was taken, the dosage, etc. A baby will usually begin showing withdrawal symptoms anywhere between one and three days after birth and may be required to stay at the hospital for one or more weeks for monitoring.
Babies born with NAS might experience symptoms such as:
- Rapid, irregular breathing
- Sneezing and stuffy nose
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- High-pitched crying
- Problems sleeping
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Blotchy skin
If NAS is not treated properly, it could lead to long-term health problems for the baby or even death. Report these NAS symptoms to your baby’s doctor as soon as they become noticeable.
What are some alternatives to treat pain while pregnant?
Depending on the severity, doctors may switch a woman’s medication to something less potent and tell them to combine the medication with at-home remedies like a cold compress for headaches.
If you are currently using Oxaydo and become pregnant, let your doctor know right away. Typically, using Oxaydo during pregnancy is not grounds to terminate the pregnancy. However, you will need to discuss with your doctor whether or not you should continue your Oxaydo treatment for the rest of your pregnancy. Even if you no longer want to use Oxaydo, do not adjust your dosage levels or treatment schedule without instruction from your doctor.
If you suddenly stop using Oxaydo, you are putting yourself at great risk for Oxaydo withdrawal symptoms. Oxaydo withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and cause health problems for you and the fetus. Oxaydo withdrawal symptoms may include abdominal cramps. muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, dilated pupils, fatigue, headache, dizziness, high blood pressure, insomnia, itching, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, restlessness, teary eyes, yawning, anxiety, depression, drug cravings, and problems concentration.
If you want to discontinue your Oxaydo treatment, ask your doctor to taper off the medication. This strategy will allow your body ample time to adjust to less and less of the medication and avoid serious withdrawal.
If you are currently suffering from an Oxaydo addiction, seek rehabilitation treatment as soon as possible. This is very important for women who are pregnant, as the more you abuse Oxaydo the more damage is done to the developing fetus. In order to minimize the damage and be a good role model for your future child, seek treatment today.
Any women suffering from an opioid addiction puts herself and her baby at risk. Opioid addiction can be devastating, but it’s not untreatable. The Recovery Village is located nation-wide and all our facilities make sure to meet each patient’s individual needs. If you or a loved are seeking long-term, safe treatment, visit www.TheRecoveryVillage.com to learn more about our treatment plans and locations.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.