A prospective study on buprenorphine use during pregnancy: effects on maternal and neonatal outcome

Abstract

The pregnancies and deliveries of buprenorphine-using women were uneventful, but severe NAS and need for morphine replacement therapy was seen in 57% of the buprenorphine-exposed newborns. A high number of sudden infant deaths occurred.

Observational Study of Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid-Dependent Pregnant Women in a Family Medicine Residency: Reports on Maternal and Infant Outcomes

“…18 Thirteen percent (3 of 23) of infants in this case series were delivered before 37 weeks, which is in the range of previously reported data (4.5%, 10%, 25%). 14,17,18 The mean birth weight of infants in this series was 3148 g, which is in the range of previously reported data (2796, 2843, 3000, 3049, and 3180 g). 3,[15][16][17][18] Similarly, the mean gestational age of infants was 39.3 weeks compared with 38.4 weeks, 38.8 weeks, and 39.6 weeks, which have been reported previously.…”

“…14,17,18 The mean birth weight of infants in this series was 3148 g, which is in the range of previously reported data (2796, 2843, 3000, 3049, and 3180 g). 3,[15][16][17][18] Similarly, the mean gestational age of infants was 39.3 weeks compared with 38.4 weeks, 38.8 weeks, and 39.6 weeks, which have been reported previously. 3,16,18 The mean time to first peak NAS score for all infants in this case series was 66.2 hours, which is similar to existing data.…”

129: Neonatal outcomes following in utero exposure to buprenorphine/naloxone or methadone

“…Recently, however, many institutions have begun using buprenorphine for opioid maintenance due to reports of a milder NAS syndrome. 2,13,14,[21][22][23][24] A recent prospective, randomized controlled trial evaluating 131 infants exposed to buprenorphine or methadone found that 47% of buprenorphine-exposed infants required treatment for NAS compared to 57% of methadone-exposed infants (p = 0.26). Additionally, infants exposed to buprenorphine required significantly less oral morphine (1.1 mg vs. 10.4 mg, respectively, p < 0.01), and had a significantly shorter duration of NAS treatment (4.1 days vs. 9.9 days, respectively, p < 0.01) compared to methadone.…”

Cocaine and Opioid Use During Pregnancy: Prevalence and Management

“…54 Though several French and some American studies report positive findings for buprenorphine in pregnancy, 55,56 greater severity of the neonatal abstinence syndrome and higher rates of sudden infant death were described in 1 Finnish study. 57 Naltrexone may also play a role in relapse prevention, and it has been used for maintenance after an initial taper with buprenorphine. In 1 small Australian study, naltrexone was used for a detoxification protocol during pregnancy with favorable results.…”