Pulse - What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Methadone vs. Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy_enduring

New medications and new guidelines are constantly being released. Pharmacists need a mechanism to keep up with these new medications and guidelines.

Opioid use in pregnancy can lead to several complications, among which are poor fetal growth, preterm birth, maternal death, and neonatal abstinence syndrome. Additionally, the long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure are not well known. The main treatment option for opioid use disorder in pregnant patients has historically been methadone, however, new evidence suggests that buprenorphine may be an appropriate and safe alternative for both the mother and baby. There are many individual reasons why patients may be better candidates for one therapy or another, and these reasons hold true during pregnancy. This presentation focuses on discussing the evidence behind using either methadone or buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder in pregnant patients, and situations that may guide medication choice.
 

Target Audience

Pharmacist

Learning Objectives

1. Describe opioid use disorder and its impact on pregnancy.

2. Recognize appropriate treatment options for opioid use disorder in pregnant patients.

3. Discuss neonatal outcomes related to medications for opioid use disorder in pregnant patients.

Additional Information

AttachmentSize
File Audience Disclosure slide_PDL.pptx917.55 KB
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
    The UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Course opens: 
04/26/2023
Course expires: 
12/31/2024
Part of: 

New medications and new guidelines are constantly being released. Pharmacists need a mechanism to keep up with these new medications and guidelines.

Opioid use in pregnancy can lead to several complications, among which are poor fetal growth, preterm birth, maternal death, and neonatal abstinence syndrome. Additionally, the long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure are not well known. The main treatment option for opioid use disorder in pregnant patients has historically been methadone, however, new evidence suggests that buprenorphine may be an appropriate and safe alternative for both the mother and baby. There are many individual reasons why patients may be better candidates for one therapy or another, and these reasons hold true during pregnancy. This presentation focuses on discussing the evidence behind using either methadone or buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder in pregnant patients, and situations that may guide medication choice.

Home Study: UPMC Mercy
Pittsburgh, PA
United States

Paige Dorve-Lewis, PharmD

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Pharmacy (CPE)

This knowledge-based activity provides 1.0 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit.

 

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
    The UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
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