On Tramadol but ready to have a baby

[TherapeuticGlitter]

I'm 30 years old. Have a beautiful partner, we have our own place. The only thing that's missing for us, is a baby.
But, of course, there's a problem....

I have a number of anxiety, pain and sleep disorders, all of which I take tablets for.

I feel stuck, I don't personally know anyone else who has had this to deal with.

I've been on Tamadol and Zopiclone for over 10 years. Probably more like 15.
I know its a ridiculous question, but I won't be allowed to take them whilst being pregnant, right?

Has anyone else been in a similar position of taking tablets that you rely on to feel human, and how you navigated your way through that?
Or even just some general advice about medicine and trying to make a baby, anything with help.

I am so desperate to be a mum, more than I'm able to express in words. I just don't know how to achieve this with the medication I have to take every single day to become a marginally productive member of society.

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Hi so I’m on slightly different tablets but similar to tramdol. I’m on dihyrdo codine at a high does. I got pregnant by accident I’m also on epilepsy medication. The codine I kept taking as I can’t move with out them, the epilepsy I had to change as can cause birth defects. The thing I was told to do was try and breast feed as it helps the baby wean of medication like tramadol. You would also have baby closely monitored I was put right next to intensive care incase baby needed help. Baby is now a happy 4 year old

I suffer from multiple health conditions, one of which I've taken codeine phosphate for over 10 years for, I got pregnant with my son in 2018, reduced the dose as much as I could, down to roughly 30-60mg a day but without it I couldn't walk and would spend hours in agony sobbing. My consultant was happy with the small dose I continued to take in order to be able to function and I was kept in hospital for 4 days just on the general ward after my son was born just to monitor him, he was absolutely fine. I also take beta-blockers for a heart condition and these caused no problems at all. I didn't breastfeed due to the codeine being present in breastmilk and I wanted it all out of his system as soon as possible.

Hi OP. I also take tramadol for a long term joint problem.
I kept taking it until I found I was pregnant. As soon as I did, I worked with my GP to reduce the amounts taken slowly, to find a level I could cope with and to reduce the risk of withdrawal.
During pregnancy, I was still taking tramadol, so after my son was born, they kept us in for a few days just to confirm everything was fine.
I would suggest you exercise caution in stopping it before you're pregnant. It took my husband and I a VERY long time to fall pregnant with our son. I hope you're not in the same boat, but it's not worth being in pain or reducing meds that work for you before you have to.
Best of luck!

Certain anxiety/depression medication is safe to take in pregnancy, sertraline is a commonly known safe one. Others such as fluoxetine should be avoided. Pain medicines such as codeine can be taken in as smaller dose as possible and ideally stopped before the 3rd trimester but you can take it whilst pregnant. Sleep medications I don't know about but your doctor will be able to advice you on any medications and swap you to a more suitable one if necessary.

Use the BUMPS website for actual medical information. Best use of medicines in pregnancy. Really easy to look up these medications and read the medical information there.

Hi, I was on high dose long term tramadol use and it actually impacted my fertility (well I'm convinced it did) all the time I was taking it I couldn't fall pregnant and had fertility tests but everything came back normal. I worked really hard over 2 years to get off it (my pain got worse before it got better I have to say - but then was under control completely without medication). About 7 months after completely coming off tramadol I fell pregnant. Sadly that pregnancy ended in miscarriage but I then fell pregnant again a year after that and am now 28 weeks pregnant with a little boy.

I'd say, if you can, work with your doctor to come off the Tramadol. Its really really hard I know but I actually think it ended up keeping me in a weird pain cycle eventually and I hadn't realised. Good luck xx

Speak to your dr, Op, it may be you can keep on some of it. For the others, it’s completely possible to taper off without too many side effects, but the key is to do it very slowly - much more slowly than the HCPs will recommend. I got off zolpidem and benzos that way without any bother. I saw a hypnotherapist and that helped me sort my anxiety and sleep out.

They may not 'allow' you but the reality is that once you are pregnant, the likelihood is that no one will be particularly worried as long as the doses aren't sky high and there is nothing known to be tetragenic.

You mention sleep disorders OP. Will you cope with the lack of sleep when the baby comes? I'm not sure if you can get any help in place for that in advance? If you and your partner can do it on a shift rota?