Should You Use Suboxone In Pregnancy
Suboxone in pregnancy
The quick answer is that this “depends” if you would want to use suboxone during pregnancy and always is decided with your personal physician. There are many factors that go into having a suboxone pregnancy:
- If you have a psychological dependency on narcotics. Many people have become physically dependent (will have withdrawals if they suddenly stop) on narcotics following use for a medical condition and can come off of the medication without being “addicted.” A true addict is much more than just physically dependent. They often feel the need to use when off narcotics and have problems in many areas of their lives from their drug use.
- How long you have used narcotics
- The number of relapses to drugs
- Stability of home life
- Stability of work situation
- Health status
- Risk to the fetus
Methadone or Suboxone In Pregnancy ?
Methadone has normally been the gold standard for use during pregnancy. The last several years suboxone (buprenorphine) has been use more and more during pregnancies. It is now considered a good alternative to methadone. One must remember the relapse rate for a true opioid “addict” is around 95%. The main concern of taking a pregnant female off narcotic treatment during pregnancy is the risks associated with both withdrawal and the risks associated with drug use. Generally, an individual who has a true addiction to narcotics should seriously consider the benefits on methadone or suboxone in pregnancy and many believe indefinitely.
Benefits of taking methadone or suboxone in pregnancy :
- Better surveillance of both the pregnancy and drug treatment by their physician
- Not having to deal with methadone withdrawal symptoms or suboxone withdrawal symptoms during pregnancy
- Improved ability to care for self
- Improved ability to maintain employment
- Lowered risk of using other drugs
- Improved finances from not purchasing illicit narcotics
- Reduced risk of accidents, injury, or assaults
Generally, an individual who has a true addiction to narcotics should seriously consider the benefits on methadone or suboxone during their pregnancy and many physicians believe indefinitely.
Discuss Taking Suboxone in Pregnancy With a Suboxone Doctor in Your Area:
If you feel you need help and are looking for a doctor who prescribes Suboxone, click here for our buprenophine physician registry. If you think you may need more intensive treatment such a methadone detox, other opioid detox, or getting started on buprenorphine inpatient, click here for our state opioid treatment center registry.
More Resources related to suboxone in pregnancy :
- Suboxone (Buprenorphine HCl and naloxone HCl) Drug Information … – SUBOXONE (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film is an orange film, imprinted with a logo identifying the product and strength in white ink. It contains buprenorphine HCl, a mu-opioid receptor partial agonist and a kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, and naloxone HCl dihydrate, an opioid receptor antagonist, at a ratio of 4:1 (ratio of free bases). It is intended for sublingual administration and is available in two dosage strengths, 2 mg buprenorphine with 0.
- About Buprenorphine Therapy – In October 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved buprenorphine monotherapy product, Subutex®, and a buprenorphine/naloxone combination product, Suboxone®, for use in opioid addiction treatment. The combination product is designed to decrease the potential for abuse by injection. Subutex® and Suboxone® are currently the only Schedule III, IV, or V medications to have received FDA approval for this indication.
- NAS: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome – You can find more information about the use of Methadone or Buprenorphine (
