Pharmacologic Treatment of Opioid Addiction During Pregnancy

Abstract

Opioid addiction during pregnancy presents a treatment challenge to clinicians and women alike. Untreated addiction can lead to poor maternal and fetal health outcomes. Medication-assisted treatment is the standard of care, and methadone is the current drug of choice for treatment. Emerging evidence also supports the use of buprenorphine during pregnancy. Both methadone and buprenorphine have risks and benefits that should be explored before initiating treatment. Clinicians who work in obstetrics and in addiction treatment can collaborate and coordinate treatment to ensure optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. Women undergoing treatment will require frequent monitoring, particularly in the third trimester. Neonates born to women receiving treatment may have withdrawal symptoms and require additional treatment.

Keywords: buprenorphine; medication-assisted treatment; methadone; opioid; pregnancy.