Buprenorphine + Naloxone Safe for Opioid Addiction in Pregnancy
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2024 -- Pregnancies exposed to buprenorphine combined with naloxone have similar or more favorable neonatal and maternal outcomes as those exposed to buprenorphine alone, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Loreen Straub, M.D., from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues compared perinatal outcomes following prenatal exposure to buprenorphine with naloxone versus buprenorphine alone in a population-based cohort study using health care utilization data from Medicaid-insured beneficiaries. The study included 3,369 pregnant individuals exposed to buprenorphine with naloxone during the first trimester and 5,326 exposed to buprenorphine alone.
The researchers found that comparing buprenorphine combined with naloxone with buprenorphine alone resulted in significantly lower risks for neonatal abstinence syndrome, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and small for gestational age (weighted relative risks, 0.77, 0.91, and 0.86, respectively). The weighted relative risk was not significantly different for maternal morbidity (comparative rates, 2.6 versus 2.9 percent). There were no differences seen with respect to major congenital malformations overall, low birth weight, preterm birth, respiratory symptoms, or cesarean delivery. Across sensitivity analyses, the results were consistent.
"This supports the view that both formulations are reasonable options for treatment of opioid use disorder in pregnancy, affirming flexibility in collaborative treatment decision-making," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
Maternal Anemia in Early Pregnancy May Increase Risk for Congenital Heart Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2025 -- Maternal anemia in early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring, according to a study...
Hospital Addiction Consultation Service Aids Opioid Use Disorder
WEDNESDAY, April 16, 2025 -- A hospital-based addiction consultation service can improve receipt of evidence-based treatment for people with opioid use disorder (OUD), according...
Risk for Long COVID Lower in Pregnant Individuals
WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2025 -- The risk for long COVID among pregnant individuals is lower than among matched nonpregnant women, according to a study published online April 1...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.