Subutex us a medication that contains buprenorphine and is used in the treatment of opioid use disorder, pain management, and opioid addiction maintenance programs. It is considered a “harm reduction” drug that replaces the use of illicit opioid drugs like heroin or “street pills”, but can also be used as an alternative to stronger and possibly more harmful prescription drugs (morphine, Percocet, fentanyl, etc.).
Women who are pregnant, planning on being pregnant, or are just finding out that they are pregnant should be careful about what food, drinks and medications they put into their body — as you do not want to harm your unborn baby. If you are taking opioids and are pregnant, you need to make sure the medications are safe for your child, and for you now that you are pregnant.
Is Using Subutex During Pregnancy Safe?
Subutex only contains buprenorphine, and not Naloxone, or any other drugs. Buprenorphine and Subutex are considered safe by the FDA for use by pregnant women. Many other opioid medications may not be safe, though. So, it is important for pregnant women to check with their doctor or addiction specialist to make sure the medication you are taking is safe to take during pregnancy.
Subutex or an approved buprenorphine medication for pregnant women is a much safer alternative than using opioids while pregnant.
Safe Alternatives for Opioids for Pregnant Women
It is important for women to find a doctor who treats pregnant women with opioid use disorder. These doctors are specialized and understand the needs of: 1. the addict, 2.) the mother, 3.) the child. Based on their decision, they will choose which opioid replacement drug is best suited. Medications used as “Medication Assisted Treatment” (MAT) include:
- Buprenorphine
- Subutex
- Methadone (in some cases of severe addiction in mothers)
- Naltrexone
- Naloxone
Is Suboxone Safe For Use During Pregnancy?
Suboxone is a medication that contains both buprenorphine and Naloxone. In the past, subutex was preferred over suboxone because there was not enough research into the long term effects of naloxone during pregnancy. However, more recent studdies have shown that both naloxone and suboxone are safe for women to use during pregnancy, and naloxone may actually help reduce the urge to use opioids in the mother.
Subutex Versus Suboxone?
The pharmaceutical industry is constantly changing, and subutex is not as commonly used as suboxone. Read our full blog on Subutex Versus Suboxone: HERE >>
What Are The Dangers of Using Opioids While Pregnant?
Using opioids and prescription drugs during pregnancy can cause several dangers to both the mother and the unborn child, including:
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) – a condition where a child is born addicted and chemically-dependent on opioids. The newborn baby may go through withdrawals from opioids once it is separated from the mother via umbilical cord.
- Birth Defects — are another serious concern for babies born to mother who use opioids. Congenital heart defects, gastroschesis (hole in the baby’s belly button), infant glaucoma, Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), miscarriage, and stillbirth are all dire concerns for mothers who are not able to quit using opioids during pregnancy or fail to switch to a safe medication for pregnant women like Subutex.
- Preeclampsia – a severe condition that affects mothers after their 20th week of pregnancy, preeclampsia is high blood pressure and hypertension accompanying signs that kidneys, liver, and other organs are not functioning properly. If not treated, this can lead to death of mother and child.
- Placental Abruption – poor overall health of the mother and drug use can cause the placenta to separate from the womb before birth. This can cause serious internal bleeding, lack of oxygen to the baby, and can threaten the lives of both mother and child.
- Increased Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) — even babies that survive birth while addicted to opioids are at an increased risk of sudden infant death within the first year after birth.
How Do You Treat Pain During Pregnancy Without Opioids?
A serious concern for women with chronic pain issues is how will they manage their pain during pregnancy — if opioids can be unsafe? This concern can lead to fear and anxiety in women and may even deter some women with chronic pain issues from trying to get pregnant of have children.
Rest assured that women with chronic pain can safely get pregnant and have a child without any health issues, and without chronic pain — as long as they do it correctly and with a doctor who understands the process.
Medications like methadone or methotrexate can offer expecting mothers pain relief from musculoskeletal pain, and reduce the risk of harm to mother and child. Mothers suffering from migraines can also find relief in non-opioid alternatives such as: triptans and antiemetics. Though the long-term effects are not fully understood yet, research has shown that botox treatments can offer long-term relief for certain types of migraines without the use of daily or monthly medications.
Managing Opioid Withdrawals During Pregnancy
There are a number of medications that are perfectly safe and FDA approved for use in pregnant women. These medications can be used to manage chronic pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawals (for women who are stopping the use of opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, etc.).
Treating Opioid Addiction in Pregnant Women
The first concern is for the health and safety of both mother and child. Most general doctors and physicians will focus on safety over comfort, so if a pregnant woman is concerned about managing her addiction and pain issues during pregnancy from a comfort standpoint, she should seek a doctor who specializes in treating pregnant women using opioids. This will start you on a plan to manage your pain, opioid use disorder, and your pregnancy all together.
Without seeking treatment in the first-place, mothers might find themselves in a situation where doctors, medical health practitioners, physicians, OB/GYNs, or hospital emergency staff do not fully understand your situation and treat only the pregnancy symptoms.
Help for Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder in Arizona
Dr Melissa Ferrell and the staff at Active Recovery Care specialize in treating pregnant women with opioid use disorders, alcohol use disorders, eating disorders, mental health disorders, and nutritional deficiencies. We approach treatment from a harm-reduction and MAT (Medication Assisted Therapy) approach, and we care for the concerns that mothers-to-be have.