Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America
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Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome is common due to the current opioid addiction epidemic. Infants born to women covertly abusing prescription opioids may not be identified as at risk until withdrawal signs present. Buprenorphine is a newer treatment for maternal opioid addiction and appears to result in a milder withdrawal syndrome than methadone. ⋯ Opioid monotherapy is preferred, with phenobarbital or clonidine uncommonly needed as adjunctive therapy. Rooming-in and breastfeeding may decease the severity of withdrawal. Limited evidence is available regarding long-term effects of perinatal opioid exposure.
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Obstet. Gynecol. Clin. North Am. · Jun 2014
ReviewThe perils of opioid prescribing during pregnancy.
Chronic opioid therapy during pregnancy is perilous, but not simply because of neonatal effects: it is perilous because women are at particular risk for misprescription, misuse, dependence, overdose, and death. Opioids may be teratogens and should be avoided in the periconception period. ⋯ Risks to pregnancy span the pre- and periconception period; neonatal risk following in utero opioid exposure is well documented. When the authors' patients request opioids for chronic pain, they care for them in a comprehensive and compassionate matter, which often will require therapeutic approaches other than chronic opioid therapy.
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Obstet. Gynecol. Clin. North Am. · Jun 2014
ReviewBuprenorphine and methadone for opioid addiction during pregnancy.
Buprenorphine and methadone are opioid-receptor agonists used as opioid substitution therapy during pregnancy to limit exposure of the fetus to cycles of opioid withdrawal and reduce the risk of infectious comorbidities of illicit opioid use. As part of a comprehensive care plan, such therapy may result in improved access to prenatal care, reduced illicit drug use, reduced exposure to infections associated with intravenous drug use, and improved maternal nutrition and infant birth weight. This article describes differences in patient selection between the two drugs, their relative safety during pregnancy, and changes in daily doses as a guide for prescribing clinicians.