Suboxone and methadone are two medications used to treat opioid use disorder and medically-assisted withdrawal. They’re both used in pregnancy if needed and each has its own relative pros and cons.
Suboxone has a lower risk of overdose, fewer drug interactions, and fewer side effects. On the other hand, methadone has more side effects, and the data on its use in pregnancy is newer and therefore more limited.
Current data is reassuring that suboxone doesn’t increase the risk of birth defects. Data on fetal brain development are mixed, but also difficult to separate from the effects of the opioid use itself. Based on this, whether you should use methadone or suboxone is a decision that needs to be discussed with your doctor.
For up-to-date information on the safety of medications in pregnancy, see www.reprotox.org 1 .
