Is either buprenorphine or methadone preferable for treatment of pregnant women who are addicted to opiates?
Either buprenorphine or methadone should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Because there is more experience with methadone than with buprenorphine in pregnant women, many clinicians consider methadone to be the preferred medication to treat pregnant women who are addicted to opiates. Evidence of the safety of buprenorphine during pregnancy is limited, and a number of adverse events have been reported. In particular, the buprenorphine-naloxone combination drug (Suboxone®) should not be used in pregnant women because naloxone may have potential adverse affects on the fetus. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) currently is funding a study of the effects of methadone and buprenorphine in opiate-dependent pregnant women.
Related Questions
- Is methadone maintenance the only type of medication-assisted treatment you offer for people addicted to opiates like heroin, Oxycotin or Demerol?
- Should women who are pregnant and addicted to opiates undergo medication-assisted treatment for their addiction?
- Is either buprenorphine or methadone preferable for treatment of pregnant women who are addicted to opiates?
