title: A Comparison of Buprenorphine + Naloxone to Buprenorphine and Methadone in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence during Pregnancy: Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes.
abstract: Given that buprenorphine + naloxone is prescribed for opioid-dependent pregnant women, it is important to examine the extent to which it differs from buprenorphine alone, methadone, or methadone-assisted withdrawal on neonatal and maternal outcomes. Summary statistics on maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected from 7 previously published studies examining treatment for opioid-dependent pregnant women that represented a range of research methodologies. Outcomes from these studies were compared to the same outcomes for 10 women treated with the combined buprenorphine + naloxone product. There were no significant differences in maternal outcomes for buprenorphine + naloxone compared to buprenorphine, methadone, or methadone-assisted withdrawal. Preliminary findings suggest no significant adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes related to the use of buprenorphine + naloxone for the treatment of opioid dependence during pregnancy. However, further research should examine possible differences between buprenorphine + naloxone and buprenorphine alone or methadone in fetal physical development.
authors.affiliation: SERAF-Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingunn O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Gabrielle K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Welle-Strand
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.forename: Kimber
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Debelak
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Morrone
authors.forename: Hendrée E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Jones
keywords: buprenorphine; methadone; neonates; opioid dependence; pregnancy