5 Major Risks While Using Naltrexone in Pregnancy

When it comes to naltrexone in pregnancy, many safety concerns arise due to the lack of research on it. If you want to know whether it is appropriate, you need to know the 5 most common potential risks of naltrexone during pregnancy, such as:

1. An increased risk of relapse
2. Higher chances of miscarriage
3. May cause fetal distress 
4. May lead to neonatal abstinence syndrome
5. Greater risk of overdose

Besides that, body aches, anxiety, nausea, hallucinations, diarrhea, lethargy, and a runny nose are the common side effects of it that may appear during pregnancy.

If you are considering naltrexone in pregnancy and don’t know where to turn for professional assistance, ChoicePoint is here for support. Call your Naltrexone online doctors near you today!

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5 Risks of Taking Naltrexone in Pregnancy

Here are the risks of using naltrexone in pregnancy: 

1. Higher Chances of Miscarriage 

There is not enough evidence on the increased risk of miscarriage from the use of naltrexone agonist or antagonist. Nevertheless, studies on animals show that it can lead to stillbirths and intrauterine fetal deaths.¹

2. Increased Possibility of Relapse 

Before you start taking naltrexone, you have to avoid opioids for a week to ten days prior. If there is an opioid in your body, naltrexone interactions can trigger withdrawal symptoms.

3. May Cause Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome 

NOWs or NAS happen when the baby is exposed to opioids while it is in the womb and shows symptoms of withdrawal later. This condition’s signs include trouble with feeding, tremors, excessive crying, rapid breathing, sweating, fever, difficulty falling asleep, and blotchy skin. After delivering the baby, new mothers may notice these symptoms for a week to six months. 

4. May Lead to Fetal Distress 

Naltrexone for alcohol use disorder and OUD has unknown long-term effects on the development of the brain of the unborn child. However, there is a possibility of fetal distress upon initiating or discontinuing naltrexone.²

5. Higher Risk of Naltrexone Overdose 

Naltrexone is a controlled substance, and doesn’t cause overdose directly. However, in opioid dependent women, it may lead to an overdose. This is because the individual has to be off of any other medications for AUD and OUD, which may increase cravings.³

Is Naltrexone Safe During Pregnancy? Know the Facts

Every case is unique, so the safety of the naltrexone depends on the individual. Before pregnancy, the doctor may have prescribed naltrexone HCl 50 mg, but after that, non-medication treatments are the first choice of professionals. Generally, Subutex (Orange Subutex vs white Subutex) and methadone are the common choices for OUD. To get more information, you can read our blog on Can you take suboxone and naltrexone together.

In specific cases where the doctors recommend naltrexone during pregnancy, the following 4 steps are mostly followed:

1. They perform a risk-benefit analysis.
2. For withdrawal prevention, they ensure that the expecting mother is opioid-free for at least 7–10 days.
3. They may use naltrexone extended-release injection every month if non-compliance is a concern.⁵
4. Provide close monitoring of maternal and fetal well-being by collaborating with addiction specialists and obstetrics care providers.

Point to Consider: Many patients inquire if Narcan vs naltrexone have the same effects or can be used as alternatives. They are two different medications used at different phases of addiction recovery. The similar answer goes for, is naltrexone the same as suboxone?

Recent Research on Naltrexone During Pregnancy

• In a research done on 230 women, it was well-tolerated by the fetus and the mother, showing no symptoms of Neonatal abstinence syndrome.⁶
• In a study where women were treated with implant naltrexone, the rates of complications during pregnancy were elevated.₇
• Another study showed that babies were born smaller and spent more time in the hospital after naltrexone exposure.⁸

Women With Opioid or Alcohol Use Disorder

Can You Take Naltrexone When Trying to Get Pregnant?

As the risks of taking naltrexone in pregnancy depend on components such as the mother’s overall health, dosage, and naltrexone interaction with other medications, the answer won’t be simple. The research on humans regarding its usage during pregnancy remains unclear to date. Yet, there are animal studies showing its potential harm to fetal development. Therefore, consulting a healthcare provider is the best option if you want to maintain sobriety during pregnancy.

At ChoicePoint, we provide a combination of behavioral therapies and medication treatment MAT to help you battle SUDs even during pregnancy. Our online Naltrexone doctors are available to help you through every query that might stop you from getting treatment. Call 844.445.2565 us today!

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Pregnancy Complications & The Role of Naltrexone: Benefits of LDN in Pregnancy 

When necessary, professionals may prescribe low-dose naltrexone during pregnancy to reduce the chances of relapse. With that, it is important to know what to avoid when taking low-dose naltrexone.

LDN in pregnancy has the following benefits for the conditions that can be dangerous for the fetus: 

Getting Medical Supervision During Pregnancy For Addiction Treatment At ChoicePoint

Whether you should consider naltrexone in pregnancy is a conclusion that should be made after careful risk-benefit analysis. For that, you need qualified staff for addiction treatment to decide on which treatment plan is suitable for AUD and OUD. ChoicePoint offers a range of therapies to pregnant women who can’t take medications for addiction treatment, such as:

• Individual Therapy program
• CBT
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Family therapy

Make the right choice today and enjoy your motherhood journey beautifully.

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

Common Mothers’ Concerns: Naltrexone Use In Pregnancy 

Here are some more queries on what happens if you drink naltrexone or consume it in any other form during pregnancy.

1. Can naltrexone help get pregnant?

Low-dose naltrexone helps with ovulatory function. It can be extremely helpful for women struggling with PCOS, which causes a hormonal imbalance, making it difficult to conceive. 

2. Has LDN helped you with infertility issues?

LDN has proven to help people with infertility issues.

3. What are the risks of taking LDN (low-dose naltrexone) during pregnancy?

LDN appears to be a safe medication during pregnancy, yet more studies are required to rule out its possible effects on birth defects and fetal development issues.⁹

4. Does naltrexone mess with hormones?

Yes, it influences cortisol, prolactin, insulin, growth hormone, and other hormones that play a part in reproductive functioning.

5. Does Naltrexone cause preterm birth?

Yes, it may cause preterm birth by activating fetal inflammatory injury.¹⁰

6. How do you obtain a naltrexone prescription during pregnancy?

As you can’t get naltrexone over the counter, you need to consult a qualified healthcare provider and buy naltrexone online after a virtual consultation with a licensed addiction specialist. 

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References

1. Farid WO, Lawrence AJ, Krstew EV, Tait RJ, Hulse GK, Dunlop SA. Maternally Administered Sustained-Release Naltrexone in Rats Affects Offspring Neurochemistry and Behaviour in Adulthood.
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3530485/
2. Wachman EM, Saia K, Bressler J, Werler M, Carter G, Jones HE. Case Series of Individuals Treated with Naltrexone during Pregnancy for Opioid and/or Alcohol Use Disorder. Journal of Addiction Medicine
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11150101/
3. Nes HE, Chisolm MS, Jansson LM, Terplan M. Naltrexone in the treatment of opioid-dependent pregnant women: the case for a considered and measured approach to research.
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22471668/
4. Singh D, Saadabadi A. Naltrexone. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534811/
5. Treatment C for SA. Chapter 5—Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone [Internet]. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2009.
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64031/
6. Towers CV, Katz E, Weitz B, Visconti K. Use of naltrexone in treating opioid use disorder in pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
   https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(19)30944-5/pdf
7. Kelty E, Hulse G. A Retrospective Cohort Study of Obstetric Outcomes in Opioid-Dependent Women Treated with Implant Naltrexone, Oral Methadone or Sublingual Buprenorphine, and Non-Dependent Controls.
   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317182872_A_Retrospective_Cohort_Study_of_Obstetric_Outcomes_in_Opioid-Dependent_Women_Treated_with_Implant_Naltrexone_Oral_Methadone_or_Sublingual_Buprenorphine_and_Non-Dependent_Controls
8. Kelty E, Hulse G. A Retrospective Cohort Study of Birth Outcomes in Neonates Exposed to Naltrexone in Utero: A Comparison with Methadone-, Buprenorphine- and Non-opioid-Exposed Neonates.
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28536981/
9. LOW DOSE NALTREXONE IN PREGNANCY COMPARISON OF OUTCOMES BETWEEN USERS AND NON-USERS DURING PREGNANCY.
   https://ldnresearchtrust.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/Dr-Phil-Boyle.pdf
10. Hanan Hamimi Wahid, Peck Yin Chin, Sharkey DJ, Diener KR, Hutchinson MR, Rice KC, et al. Toll-Like Receptor-4 Antagonist (+)-Naltrexone Protects Against Carbamyl-Platelet Activating Factor (cPAF)-Induced Preterm Labor in Mice.
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7237831/