|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Methadone is a long-acting synthetic narcotic analgesic, used in the treatment of opiate dependence. Ø Women taking methadone can conceive and be safely maintained on a stable methadone dosage during pregnancy without negative long-term effects on their health and the health of their infants. Ø Methadone maintenance is the recommended medical treatment for most opiate-dependent pregnant women. Ø Risk to maternal and fetus health occur when a women on methadone treatment relapses to illicit drug use. Proper methadone dosage is important. Ø Pregnancy can lower methadone blood levels. Lower methadone blood levels can increase relapse risk and, or withdrawal. Dosage levels should be evaluated and individually determined to reduce risk of relapse or withdrawal and to stabilize both mother and fetus. Encourage the woman to talk to her doctor. Ø Decreasing the doses of methadone during the first 3 months of a pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage. Ø The majority of infants exposed to methadone in the uterus are healthy and show fewer negative outcomes than those infants exposed to heroin and other illicit drugs. Ø Neonatal abstinence syndrome varies greatly. For those infants experiencing withdrawal, treatment is effective. The Benefits of Methadone Maintenance - · Increases the woman’s contact with medical care and thus prenatal support, · Has potential to increase stability of woman’s life as she no longer needs to seek and secure illicit drugs to prevent withdrawal, · Offers protection of the fetus from erratic maternal opioid levels and repeated episodes of withdrawal seen in woman using illicit opioids. Adapted from Questions and Answers Regarding Methadone Maintenance Treatment Research |
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Service Providers: | Pregnant Women: | ||||||||||||||
