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Neonatal outcome following buprenorphine maintenance for opiate dependency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

John Fagan  and
Eamon Keenan
John Fagan*
Affiliation:
YoDA Addiction service, Glen Abbey Building, Belgard Road, Dublin 24, Ireland
Eamon Keenan
Affiliation:
Addiction Services, Bridge House, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, Ireland. Health Service Executive – Dublin Mid Leinster, Ireland
*
*Correspondence Email: johnc.fagan@hse.ie
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Abstract

Methadone substitution improves maternal and neonatal outcomes. However methadone induced neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is common. Buprenorphine-exposed neonates may be at a lower risk of NAS. Currently in the Republic of Ireland, buprenorphine does not have a special licence for use in pregnancy. We describe here the history and neonatal outcomes of the first Irish woman maintained on buprenorphine during two pregnancies.

Supervised urinanalysis on this mother between and throughout both pregnancies did not reveal any illicit drug use. She delivered two post-term babies of normal birth weight and length. The second infant required treatment for NAS for 21 days with morphine sulphate. Although the use of buprenorphine in pregnancy does not remove the possibility of NAS, neonatal outcomes of buprenorphine-maintained women compares favourably to methadone. As the use of buprenorphine becomes more established in Ireland, the management of buprenorphine-exposed neonates will become more common.

Keywords

Neonatal abstinence syndromeOpiate dependencyBuprenorphine.
Type
Case reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , December 2008 , pp. 141 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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