Approximately 4 million babies or 83.2% of US infants have been breastfed, according to the data released by CDC in 2018. In most cases, taking dangerous medication, whether it's prescribed or not, may ultimately affect the welfare and well-being not just of the mother, but also their baby.
Today, Transcend Recovery Community looks into various issues surrounding breastfeeding and substance use, particularly with Percocet while breastfeeding. Continue reading to find out more.
Is Taking Percocet while Breastfeeding Safe?
Although oxycodone can be only found in small traces in breast milk, an excess of breast milk with Percocet may cause the following to the infants:
- respiratory problems
- sedation
- lethargy
The more frequently a mother takes Percocet while breastfeeding, the higher the dose and the greater the risk a mother is putting on her baby's health. Therefore, it is never safe to take Percocet while breastfeeding.
When a mother is required to take a dosage beyond 40 milligrams per day, they should always consult their attending physician to find better alternatives that may not affect their health, especially when they breastfeed their baby.
However, there are certain conditions to be looked into especially if Percocet was given post-delivery. The substance can be passed through breastfeeding on the fourth-day post-delivery. What a mother could do is switch to non-opioid variants such as Tylenol for pain management.
They can also opt to start breastfeeding first their baby before taking their prescription. That way, they will not be abruptly forced to stop Percocet use which may result in a painful withdrawal.
Are There Alternatives to Taking Percocet while Breastfeeding?
New moms can still experience pain relief without relying on drugs like Percocet, which may contain opioids or even other medications that may harm infants during this crucial period.
One option is to take non-opioid medications, such as over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol and Motrin. But it's still crucial to note that breastfeeding mothers must remember that these medications may contain traces of acetaminophen in their milk. It's always best to consult their health care providers regarding medication safety especially if it contains substances such as oxycodone and acetaminophen.
Mothers post-pregnancy may also resort to natural or alternative therapy to achieve pain relief. There are natural remedies that can help them alleviate pain compared to modern medicine that may not tamper with the breast milk they produce, especially when they are breastfeeding right after birth.
Here are some examples of alternative remedies for pain relief that mothers may consider:
- Acupuncture
- Herbs and spices
- Reiki
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
It's best to directly communicate with health care providers to clarify if it's safe to do as people may have different experiences or reactions to certain medications or health practices.
What is Percocet and How Long Does it Stay in Your System?
Percocet is a combination medication or medicine used to alleviate moderate to severe pain. It can be classified under the family of opioid painkillers under oxycodone and contains a non-opioid pain reliever, acetaminophen. The drug works by changing how your body responds to pain, while acetaminophen reduces an individual's fever in the process.
The drug Percocet may take at least a half-life of 3.5 hours. It simply means that it's the amount of time in which the body can rid itself of half of the drug. Meanwhile, it takes at least 19 hours for Percocet to be fully processed by your body.
People should understand many factors could affect their body from processing Percocet. Things like your body's metabolic rate, age, gender, and hepatic and renal health, may also impact how women, especially mothers can process their opioid use and how this may also affect their health.
Can You Become Addicted to Percocet?
Since Percocet contains oxycodone, addiction may become a great concern for mothers especially during and post-pregnancy. There are also many risks associated when taking the medicine regularly than is recommended.
Continuous use of Percocet while breastfeeding may lead to an eventual dependence. That dependency may also be passed from mothers to their infants. If you are planning to engage in breastfeeding post-pregnancy for your infant, it's important to weigh the cons of any medication or treatment that you plan to use.
Ample research must be done by any pregnant mother to mitigate the risks that they may encounter especially during the breastfeeding stage. It's highly recommended to stop taking any form of drug to avoid any issues in the breast milk that you may feed to your baby or infant.
However, there should be a gradual tapering done when stopping Percocet use. Gradually decreasing the dose avoids the development of withdrawal symptoms which may put the health of the infant and the mother in grave danger.
If a mother is struggling with a substance use disorder, they may seek treatment by admitting themselves into an inpatient or outpatient drug rehab treatment program. This may help them improve their health and alleviate the damage of a particular drug disorder to their health.
In some cases, a rehabilitation specialist may recommend living in recovery apartments, where they can be closely monitored by trained and professional staff members to avoid relapse which happens in most cases, especially if a person has access to even a single dose of their drug during or post-treatment.
Does Transcend Recovery Community Assist with Percocet Addiction?
While Percocet addiction may become a huge addiction problem for people—and even a greater worry for a mother breastfeeding their baby, always remember that not all hope is lost. Through comprehensive mental health programs, you can get better and achieve recovery.
Transcend Recovery Community provides supplemental mental health support by providing additional services to help people while they are undergoing rehabilitation. With various programs such as sober living and transitional housing opportunities for patients, Transcend can empower and provide a safe space for people as they recover from their addiction.
With the help of a team of mental health professionals and counselors, alongside a community of residents to provide comfort and encouragement, patients may feel acceptance and hope that they could lead purpose-driven and drug-free lives as they transition to the real world.
If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, don't hesitate to contact us. Our Recovery Specialists can gladly take your every query and help you take that first step to long-term sobriety.
