Can Suboxone Be Used In Pregnancy?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Can Suboxone be used in pregnancy? In a recent study examining the safety of addiction treatment medications, West Virginia University faculty found that Suboxone may be safer for pregnant women and their babies than methadone or Subutex.

Can you take Suboxone strips while pregnant?

While

Suboxone is safely prescribed during pregnancy

, babies born to mothers who have used Suboxone can develop neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This condition occurs when any form of opioids are used during pregnancy, including opioid medications used during opioid addiction treatment.

Which is better for pregnancy Suboxone or Subutex?

The main difference between Subutex and Suboxone is that the former does not contain naloxone, which was initially thought to raise the risk of miscarriage or adverse fetal outcomes. However, research suggests that

Suboxone, which does contain naloxone, is as safe and efficacious as Subutex

.

Is Suboxone or methadone better for pregnancy?

For newborn outcomes, treatment with

buprenorphine as compared to methadone

resulted in significantly longer gestational age, reduced incidence of preterm birth (defined as gestational age less than 37 weeks), larger birth weight, and larger head circumference.

What does Suboxone do to an unborn child?


Death of the unborn baby, fetal convulsions, early labor, and NAS

are some of the risks. NAS may be less likely, NAS may be not as severe, and treatment may be briefer for babies whose mothers had buprenorphine or methadone treatment, compared to those whose mothers were not treated while pregnant.

Can you switch from methadone to Suboxone while pregnant?

These findings suggest

women can safely be transitioned from methadone to buprenorphine during pregnancy

.

Is buprenorphine FDA approved for pregnancy?


Buprenorphine and methadone are considered the treatments of choice for OUD in pregnant and breastfeeding women

.

Does buprenorphine cause birth defects?


Limited studies looking at buprenorphine in pregnancy have not reported an increased chance for birth defects

. Not every opioid medication has been studied on its own. Some studies that have looked at opioids as a group suggest that opioids in general might be associated with birth defects.

Can you breastfeed while on Suboxone?

Is it safe to breastfeed while taking Suboxone? Yes! The transfer of medication for addiction treatment (MAT), including buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) and methadone, through breast milk is minimal. So,

breastfeeding while on buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is safe for your baby!

What pregnancy category is buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is

pregnancy category C

; there are limited data in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in women despite potential risks. Physicians should use buprenorphine in pregnancy using a risk/benefit analysis, informing the patient about the still unproven status of buprenorphine treatment.

What pregnancy category is naloxone?

The combination medication buprenorphine-naloxone is rated

category C

by the US Food and Drug Administration (potential benefits should outweigh the potential risk).

What pregnancy category is Subutex?

Currently, Subutex is in the middle, in the

“C” category

for use during pregnancy. Like with the other drugs in the “C” category, it is unknown whether buprenorphine can severely harm an unborn baby as there are no well-controlled studies in humans that prove the risks of taking Subutex while pregnant.

Does buprenorphine cross placenta?

Methadone or buprenorphine

Both forms of OST that are prescribed in pregnancy – the mu opioid receptor full agonist methadone and partial agonist buprenorphine –

cross the placenta

and may have an effect on the neonate.

Why is naloxone contraindicated in pregnancy?

Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy. There is limited information on naloxone and pregnancy loss. One study found that

there was not a greater chance for a stillbirth in pregnancies in which naloxone was used

. Overdosing with an opioid might increase the chances for pregnancy loss.

Does Suboxone make you infertile?

Marijuana, heavy alcohol use and narcotics, including heroin, all can have negative effects on sperm and can affect brain hormones that turn on testosterone and sperm production.

Addiction treatment medications such as Suboxone and methadone can also influence the hormones that affect sperm and testosterone

.

Can you take methadone if your pregnant?


Buprenorphine and methadone have both been shown to be safe and effective treatments for opioid use disorder during pregnancy

. While NAS may still occur in babies whose mothers received these medications, it is less severe than in the absence of treatment.

Can you get Sublocade while pregnant?


If you receive SUBLOCADE while pregnant, your baby may have symptoms of opioid withdrawal at birth that could be life-threatening if not recognized and treated

. breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. SUBLOCADE can pass into your breast milk and harm your baby.

Can you take naloxone while breastfeeding?

Because it is not orally bioavailable,

it is unlikely to affect the breastfed infant

. However, if naloxone is required by the mother for an opiate overdose, she should withhold nursing until the opiate is out of her system.

How long does a baby go through withdrawal?

You may hear newborn withdrawal referred to as neonatal abstinence syndrome or NAS. Symptoms usually appear 1 to 7 days after birth. Symptoms can be mild or severe, but they usually go away

by the time a baby is 6 months old

.

How much buprenorphine crosses the placenta?

Placenta was shown to be a depot for BUP with

less than 10%

of maternal dose transferred to the fetal circuit, and only 5% of perfused BUP metabolized to NBUP during a 4 h perfusion.

Does buprenorphine cause neonatal abstinence syndrome?

The time to emergence of NAS symptoms following buprenorphine is similar to methadone exposure at 36–60 h in most infants, although there are occasional cases of more prolonged emergence of symptoms.

Does Suboxone affect fertility?

Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone)

does not affect fertility

or your ability to become pregnant if you are a female or to make someone else pregnant if you are a male.

Is buprenorphine FDA approved for pregnancy?


Buprenorphine and methadone are considered the treatments of choice for OUD in pregnant and breastfeeding women

.

Can you breastfeed while on Suboxone?

Is it safe to breastfeed while taking Suboxone? Yes! The transfer of medication for addiction treatment (MAT), including buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) and methadone, through breast milk is minimal. So,

breastfeeding while on buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is safe for your baby!

What pregnancy category is buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is

pregnancy category C

; there are limited data in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in women despite potential risks. Physicians should use buprenorphine in pregnancy using a risk/benefit analysis, informing the patient about the still unproven status of buprenorphine treatment.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.