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Review
. 2008 May;21(3):255-9.
doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e3282fb25e5.

Opioid dependence and pregnancy

Affiliations
Review

Opioid dependence and pregnancy

Bernadette Winklbaur et al. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2008 May.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The management of opioid dependence during pregnancy has received considerable attention over the past three decades. Recent peer-reviewed literature in the fields of pregnancy and opioid dependence and neonatal abstinence syndrome has been evaluated and discussed.

Recent findings: Pregnant opioid-dependent women must be carefully managed to minimize harm to the fetus; therefore, standardized care for maternal health is required. In a multidisciplinary care system opioid maintenance therapy is the recommended treatment approach during pregnancy. Equivalent attention must be given to the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome, which occurs in 55-94% of neonates after intrauterine opioid exposure with a 60% likelihood of requiring treatment; heterogeneous rating scales as well as heterogeneous treatment approaches are often responsible for extended hospital stays.

Summary: Interpretation of available literature is confounded by several methodological flaws. In general, there is still a lack of evidence-based study designs for pharmacological treatment of these patients as well as neonatal abstinence syndrome.

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