We encourage all patients to stay on medication-assisted treatment during pregnancy—and you can take buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) OR buprenorphine-monotherapy (Subutex) while pregnant. It was initially thought in the early use of buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) that the naloxone component could cross the placenta and have negative consequences for the pregnancy. However, the more experience we have with opioid dependence during pregnancy, we’ve found that the potential naloxone risk is likely overstated. Many providers still err on the side of caution, though, and prescribe buprenorphine-monotherapy (Subutex) during pregnancy. Read more about buprenorphine use during pregnancy here.
Dr. Rollston is a Family Medicine Physician at Cambridge Health Alliance, Affiliate Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Primary Care Blog, and Founder of Doctors For A Healthy US, LLC. She earned her Medical Degree from East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine and her Master of Public Health from The George Washington University. Her professional interests focus on social influencers of health & health disparities, addiction medicine, sexual & reproductive health, homelessness & supportive housing, and rural health.
