Can You Take Subutex While Pregnant: Addiction Treatment Guide for Mothers

Can you take Subutex while pregnant? This is the question many mothers suffering from Opioid use disorder ask while dealing with pregnancy and addiction-related complexities. Opioid addiction is among the leading problems in the US, consuming more than 100,000 lives annually, including prescription opioids. Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing severe complications if they are not guided well throughout the treatment, but this blog can help you understand all!

ChoicePoint provides personalized care for expecting mothers suffering from opioid use disorder with same-day prescriptions. Contact us to book your appointments! 844.445.2565

We Accept Most Insurance Programs

Subutex: Why Is It Prescribed

Subutex (buprenorphine) is a Schedule III controlled substance, according to DEA. Subutex is an opioid medication used to treat opioid withdrawal during addiction treatment.

Recent studies have shown that buprenorphine (Subutex) provides comparatively a safer treatment for pregnant mothers from opioid use disorder when administered adequately. However, there is a lack of knowledge about its maximum dosage during treatment, so complications related to Subutex, if not professionally governed, persist!

How Subutex Works in the Body

Subutex is given during medical detox from opioids in tablet form. It comes in 0.4 mg, 2mg, and 8mg sublingual tablets, which means it can only be taken by keeping it under the tongue, not chewing or swallowing.  

Subutex (Buprenorphine) is a partial opioid agonist that mainly works by binding to and stimulating opioid receptors in the brain. They reduce cravings and mimic the action of opioids to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Opioid receptors are present in the body as nerve endings, so they play a crucial role in stimulating many bodily functions that subutex resist by normalizing. 

Can You Take Subutex While Pregnant: Key Measures

Subutex is safer to use under supervised professional consultation in a drug rehab. However, in case of pregnancy, there are some considerations to keep in mind:

• Higher doses have a risk factor for the fetus developing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
• Unsupervised Subutex administration may lead to overdose, dependence, and side effects
• Do not breastfeed if taking Subutex, as it might cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby
• If someone finds out about their pregnancy during treatment, they should not immediately stop Subutex, only taper off with other medication management and therapies to assist OUD treatment.
• It is recommended to keep going with the Subutex prescription but under strict observations and blood testing to ensure safe treatment and carrying pregnancy.

In conclusion, it is better to keep going with a Subutex prescription with minimal side effects, as depicted below.

Opioid Use Disorder Diagnosis: Check Your Addiction Before Conceiving a Life

DSM-5 has designed an OUD diagnostic criteria, according to which a person can judge their opioid addiction. To facilitate this, we have created a similar addiction self-assessment for people seeking help. Check yourself and give a call to our 24/7 virtual experts to guide your addiction recovery and health 844.445.2565.

Subutex and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Why Infants Are at Risk

Direct cases of harmful effects of Subutex on fetuses are rare and mostly unknown. However, mothers with opioid use disorder taking Subutex long-term or without supervision may harm the baby through developing addiction and dependence, causing a condition called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). In such conditions, babies show severe side effects of drug withdrawal after birth, such as:

• Jitteriness
• Vomiting & Diarrhea
• Irregular breathing
• Fever
• Blotchy skin
• Excessive crying
• Hyperactivity
• Increased weight
• Seizures
• Tremors/trembling
• Irritability
• Stuffy nose
• Insomnia/ yawning
• Increased sweating
• Difficulty sucking and feeding
• Dehydration

However, if such conditions develop, mothers taking buprenorphine (Subutex) after birth should breastfeed, as research shows better outcomes of alleviating withdrawal symptoms in babies when administered through breastmilk. Babies are kept in hospitals for a few weeks till withdrawal symptoms are gone and the baby is out of danger. 

For Your Information, 6 out of 1000 newborns have (NAS) after birth, and mothers taking buprenorphine have a lower risk of developing such consequences for their babies!

Risk of Abruptly Stopping Subutex While Pregnant

It is pertinent to know that stopping opioid medications such as Subutex may lead to drug relapse and other pregnancy-related complications such as:

• Fetal death
• Low birth weight
• Preterm labor
• Opioid withdrawal symptoms
• Miscarriage
• Fetal death
• Fetal distress
• Preterm labor

One should consult a professional before changing any treatment regimen to avoid inconvenience.

What Are the Rare Side Effects of Subutex?

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment During Pregnancy: A Risk-Free Approach to Recovery

Given the unique needs of Pregnant women, they should be maintained with Subutex dosage while administering different approaches to recovery, managing all the complexities of addiction and pregnancy with a comprehensive recovery plan.

Dual Diagnosis: Dealing with Complications of Addiction During Pregnancy

Mothers go through a lot of hormonal imbalances during pregnancy. OUD is mainly accompanied by Mental illnesses such as PTSD, Anxiety, and depression due to its attack on the brain. Such complexities are dealt with through the application of a dual diagnosis program that addresses:

• Addiction complexities
• Substance use disorder
• Mental illness

Whether before or during pregnancy, mental health is as important as the mother’s physical health for the baby’s sound growth and continuing a sober lifestyle for both.

Medicated-Detox: Keeping the Baby and Mother Safe From Withdrawal Toxicity

If someone plans pregnancy or finds themselves in the middle of it during addiction treatment, they need to detox from opioids. That is why Subutex is recommended for keeping the mother away from withdrawal symptoms or opioid toxicity in the blood. 

Apart from Subutex, a comprehensive medicated detox may include MAT under DEA-certified professional supervision with medications such as:

• Suboxone (Buprenorphine & Naxolone) and Naltrexone, as research shows promising efficacy and safe outcomes for pregnant women

Such medications are FDA-Approved, meaning they are safe for both the mother and the baby during detox treatment. It not only helps the mother to purify from opioids safely but also helps maintain pregnancy and keep the baby safe from NAS.

Psychotherapy: Taking Care of Mother’s Mental Health During OUD and Pregnancy

Due to delicate mental health during pregnancy, mothers should be given psychotherapies to restructure their mindset for coping with pregnancy and addiction-related challenges. Psychiatrist does this in two ways:

• By alleviating negative thoughts about baby life, addiction regrets, and societal pressure through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
• Coaxing aggressive behavior due to abrupt hormonal changes could lead to self-harm or relapse with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

 Once all mental irregularities are addressed, it becomes easy for the mother to handle pregnancy complexities with a hard fist and a healthy mindset.

Post-Pregnancy OUD Treatment: Achieve Life-Long-Sobriety

Post-pregnancy relapse is expected due to abrupt normalcy after giving birth. Because a mother is:

• Dealing with post-partum depression
• Getting back to life after a break from work/familial relationships due to addiction
• Pregnancy-related appointments 

It becomes challenging for women to continue sobriety and often leads to severe relapses. The risk of drug overdose also increases after delivery because life is gone from the body. While taking regular therapy sessions in:

• Individual and Group
• Family settings

The fourth trimester is crucial as it is physically and emotionally daunting for both the mother and the baby. Continuing OUD treatment is necessary for both the baby and the mother so that long-term sobriety is achieved while living a healthy lifestyle for both. 

CALL NOW FOR FREE SCREENING

Personalized Subutex Treatment That Every Mother Deserves

Since the blog addressed the query “Can You Take Subutex While Pregnant.” It is best to know that mothers can get help from ChoicePoint with all their catered needs through our personalized expecting mothers addiction treatment program. 

We provide all the necessities of addiction treatment with commercial insurance availability and self-paced treatment duration to assist the mothers wholly. 

Whether someone is planning on pregnancy, got pregnant with opioid addiction, or felt any post-pregnancy addiction complexities, we’ve got you all covered! Fill out this form to validate your insurance, or Call 844.445.2565 our 24/7 virtual consultant for expert help!

Common Questions Regarding Subutex, Pregnancy, and Addiction

You might be wondering about some queries in mind that we have addressed, such as:

Does Subutex Block Opiates?

Yes! Subutex blocks all types of opiates by binding the opioid receptors in the brain called mu, delta, and Kappa, reducing the effects, cravings, and withdrawal of opiates and opioids. 

How Long Does Subutex Stay In Your System?

Subutex’s stay depends on a person’s metabolism, dosage, and kidney/ liver functioning; however, it may stay in the system from around 24-60 hours, while the average stay is about 38 hours in normal, healthy individuals.

How Does Subutex Affect Baby During Pregnancy?

Subutex does not negatively impact a baby’s health during pregnancy, and it is considered safe for opioid addiction treatment during pregnancy. However, it is recommended to consult professionals if someone faces any side effects during pregnancy.

Does Buprenorphine Cause Birth Defects?

No! Unless someone misuses buprenorphine or does not use it under professionally recommended dosage, there is no such evidence that buprenorphine is associated with any congenital disabilities.

Is It Safe to Take Tramadol While Pregnant?

It is not recommended! Tramadol has not been studied much for its efficacy during pregnancy, so it is advisable not to take such medications that are not clinically tested before under exceptional circumstances. However, if someone takes it during late pregnancy, there are chances that their baby may develop dependence, which can cause withdrawal symptoms in them.

How Can I Detox My Body While Pregnant?

As the clinicians recommend, consulting a professional, certified rehab that has specialized programs for expecting mothers’ addiction is best suited to start your detox while pregnant. Doing it alone may have grave consequences that might become fatal for both the mother and the baby!