RCT Comparing Methadone and Buprenorphine in Pregnant Women

Summary

Children born to women who abuse drugs have a high risk of being born with birth defects and developmental problems. Methadone is a drug that is commonly used for treating opioid dependence. However, its use by a pregnant woman can cause severe withdrawal symptoms in a newborn because of the prenatal exposure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of buprenorphine, another drug, versus methadone in reducing withdrawal symptoms in children born to opioid-dependent women.

Timeline

Start

2005-07

Primary completion

2009-08

Completion

2010-06

Publications

• Jones HE, Kaltenbach K, Heil SH, Stine SM, Coyle MG, Arria AM, O'Grady KE, Selby P, Martin PR. Nonserious adverse events in randomized trials with opioid-dependent pregnant women: direct versus indirect measurement. Am J Addict. 2012 Nov;21 Suppl 1:S1-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00289.x.
• Holbrook AM, Jones HE, Heil SH, Martin PR, Stine SM, Fischer G, Coyle MG, Kaltenbach K. Induction of pregnant women onto opioid-agonist maintenance medication: an analysis of withdrawal symptoms and study retention. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013 Sep 1;132(1-2):329-34. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.02.031. Epub 2013 Mar 21.
• Jones HE, Heil SH, Tuten M, Chisolm MS, Foster JM, O'Grady KE, Kaltenbach K. Cigarette smoking in opioid-dependent pregnant women: neonatal and maternal outcomes. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013 Aug 1;131(3):271-7. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.11.019. Epub 2012 Dec 29.
• McNicholas LF, Holbrook AM, O'Grady KE, Jones HE, Coyle MG, Martin PR, Heil SH, Stine SM, Kaltenbach K. Effect of hepatitis C virus status on liver enzymes in opioid-dependent pregnant women maintained on opioid-agonist medication. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(0 1):91-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04043.x.
• Holbrook AM, Baxter JK, Jones HE, Heil SH, Coyle MG, Martin PR, Stine SM, Kaltenbach K. Infections and obstetric outcomes in opioid-dependent pregnant women maintained on methadone or buprenorphine. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):83-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04042.x.
• Benningfield MM, Dietrich MS, Jones HE, Kaltenbach K, Heil SH, Stine SM, Coyle MG, Arria AM, O'Grady KE, Fischer G, Martin PR. Opioid dependence during pregnancy: relationships of anxiety and depression symptoms to treatment outcomes. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(0 1):74-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04041.x.
• Coyle MG, Salisbury AL, Lester BM, Jones HE, Lin H, Graf-Rohrmeister K, Fischer G. Neonatal neurobehavior effects following buprenorphine versus methadone exposure. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(0 1):63-73. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04040.x.
• Gaalema DE, Scott TL, Heil SH, Coyle MG, Kaltenbach K, Badger GJ, Arria AM, Stine SM, Martin PR, Jones HE. Differences in the profile of neonatal abstinence syndrome signs in methadone- versus buprenorphine-exposed neonates. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(0 1):53-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04039.x.
• Kaltenbach K, Holbrook AM, Coyle MG, Heil SH, Salisbury AL, Stine SM, Martin PR, Jones HE. Predicting treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome in infants born to women maintained on opioid agonist medication. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(0 1):45-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04038.x.
• Salisbury AL, Coyle MG, O'Grady KE, Heil SH, Martin PR, Stine SM, Kaltenbach K, Weninger M, Jones HE. Fetal assessment before and after dosing with buprenorphine or methadone. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(0 1):36-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04037.x.
• Jones HE, Fischer G, Heil SH, Kaltenbach K, Martin PR, Coyle MG, Selby P, Stine SM, O'Grady KE, Arria AM. Maternal Opioid Treatment: Human Experimental Research (MOTHER)--approach, issues and lessons learned. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(0 1):28-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04036.x.
• Jones HE, Heil SH, Baewert A, Arria AM, Kaltenbach K, Martin PR, Coyle MG, Selby P, Stine SM, Fischer G. Buprenorphine treatment of opioid-dependent pregnant women: a comprehensive review. Addiction. 2012 Nov;107 Suppl 1(0 1):5-27. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04035.x.
• Unger A, Jagsch R, Bawert A, Winklbaur B, Rohrmeister K, Martin PR, Coyle M, Fischer G. Are male neonates more vulnerable to neonatal abstinence syndrome than female neonates? Gend Med. 2011 Dec;8(6):355-64. doi: 10.1016/j.genm.2011.10.001. Epub 2011 Nov 15.
• Jones HE, Kaltenbach K, Heil SH, Stine SM, Coyle MG, Arria AM, O'Grady KE, Selby P, Martin PR, Fischer G. Neonatal abstinence syndrome after methadone or buprenorphine exposure. N Engl J Med. 2010 Dec 9;363(24):2320-31. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1005359.

Drugs

Indications