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Abusing Prescription Drugs During Pregnancy

When you become pregnant, changes must be made in your lifestyle for the health of your baby. If dependence on or abuse of prescription drugs has become part of your life, it is important that you seek help. Abusing prescription drugs can not only be harmful to you, but also to your baby.

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs:

Opioids: These drugs are prescribed to treat pain and are sometimes used as a pre-anesthetic sedative. Common names include morphine, codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), meperidine (Demerol) and oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet).

CNS Depressants: These drugs are prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. CNS depressants are divided into two categories, barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Common prescription names include mephobarbital (Mebaral), pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Activan) and chlordiazepoxide HCI (Librium).

Stimulants: These drugs are prescribed to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Common prescription names include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine or Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin).

Popular Drugs That Can Be Harmful to Your Baby:

• Morphine and Demerol are labeled Category C for safety in pregnancy; they are used to relieve severe to moderate pain.
• Tylenol with Codeine is labeled Category C for safety in pregnancy; it is usually used for mild to moderately severe pain.
• Xanax is labeled Category D for safety in pregnancy; it is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
• Valium is labeled not for use in pregnancy; it is used to treat anxiety disorders and alcohol withdrawal.
• Ritalin is labeled Category C for safety in pregnancy; it is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactive disorder.
• Oxycontin is labeled Category B for safety in pregnancy; it is used to relieve moderate to severe pain for an extended amount of time.

It is important that you inform your health care provider of any drugs that you are taking.

How can prescription drugs harm my baby?

Everything that a pregnant woman ingests has the potential to reach her baby and either have a positive affect or a negative affect. Oxygen and nutrients, which have a positive affect, reach the fetus by crossing the placenta. Any drugs taken by a pregnant woman will also cross the placenta to reach the baby. Depending on when a pregnant woman takes these drugs during her pregnancy will determine the affect they can have on the fetus. Prescription drugs can cause the following problems and complications during pregnancy:

• Cause the uterus to contract which can affect the blood supply to the baby or cause preterm labor and birth
• Affect prenatal development which can lead to birth defects or fetal demise.
• Affect the function of the placenta which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the baby. This can result in underdeveloped and underweight babies

How would I know if I am abusing prescription drugs?

• You consume larger doses than prescribed
• You use them more frequently than prescribed
• You take the medication for reasons other than what it was prescribed for
• You take medication prescribed for someone else
• You use medication with other substances such as alcohol or other narcotics

What should I do if I am pregnant and abusing prescription drugs?

The hardest part is admitting that there is a problem. When you become pregnant your lifestyle habits will have to change for your protection and that of your baby during this special time.

When you attend your first prenatal visit, your health care provider will ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle. He/she will ask if you smoke, drink, and/or are taking any prescription drugs. You should be open and honest with your health care provider.

If you find it difficult to stop taking your medications, you need to seek help. Call the National Alcohol & Drug Dependence Hopeline at 1-800-NCA-CALL (622-2255) for help.