Subutex & Pregnancy

1. 48

   AisMomposted 14 years ago

   Subutex & Pregnancy
   
   I have a friend who is in her first trimester of pregnancy. She is/has been buying Subutex off the street for over 2 years now. She has decided to continue using Subutex during her pregnancy. I understand that it is very dangerous for the baby to quit this drug cold turkey, but I am afraid of the affect this will have on her baby once it's born - especially since she does not plan on informing her doctor. My main question is what will the effects have on her baby once it's born? And is there a medication that the doctor would give the newborn if he knew the mother's addiction to the drug?

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2. 60

   xkamronxposted 14 years ago

   While it's obvious from anyone who reads my Hubs (not many...) that I don't agree with drugs, I'll help you out on this one.
   
   Any drug that is not prescribed and being taken as an addiction can be harmful to your friend's body, and even more so to a fetus.
   
   If your friend takes Subutex while pregnant, her baby will be born addicted to buprenorphine, and will likely go through some degree of NAS (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome).
   
   Studies indicate that over half of babies born to Subutex using mothers will suffer this infant withdrawal period to some degree. Many infants with NAS need only a few days of additional cuddling, attention and quiet – some infants will need treatment, such as with an opiate tincture.
   
   Additionally, buprenorphine is passed through the milk to the infant, and the manufacturer of Subutex does not recommend that it be used by nursing mothers.
   
   However, SAMHSA has looked at the issue and has said that since buprenorphine is not well absorbed in the stomach, babies getting it through breast milk seem minimally affected by it, and that Subutex using women can breastfeed.
   
   I hope this is somewhat helpful..  All in all, if her dosage isn't crazily high, the baby will be born with a minor addiction. If she's taking WAY more than she should be (prescribed or not), she could possibly have a miscarriage.

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