title: Counseling about risks of congenital anomalies from prescription opioids.
abstract: The use of prescription opioids is becoming an increasing problem among women of reproductive age. More than half of pregnancies are unintended; therefore, many first-trimester exposures to opioids occur before pregnancy confirmation. Studies are limited about the fetal risks to opioid exposure in early pregnancy. One large study demonstrated an increased risk of certain heart defects and spina bifida with first-trimester exposure to opioids. It is important to counsel women whose fetuses were exposed to opioids in early pregnancy about the potential risks, encourage them to cease using opioids or seek alternative treatments when appropriate, and use the lowest effective dose when opioid treatment is to be continued. It is also valuable to screen for anatomic abnormalities such as neural tube and cardiac defects with available maternal serum testing and ultrasound imaging in the early second trimester. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 94:620-625, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors: Milagro Clinic for Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorders, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. MCBrennan@salud.unm.edu
authors: Matthew C
authors: MC
authors: Brennan
authors: William F
authors: WF
authors: Rayburn
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003376:Counseling; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000187:drug effects; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000187:drug effects; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid