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What Are The Side Effects Of Methadone On A Child?
Question: hi my daughter was an subutex during her pregnancy and has given birth. Her son was put on methadone to wean him. he has been on .02 mg of methadone and now they want to put him on something else to send him home he will supposedly be on this other drug for two months and now they are saying he could have birth defects from the weaning process. What can she expect
Brief Answer:
Opiate use in expectant mothers can lead to birth defects.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Opiates like Subutex (Buprenorphine) develop dependence both in the mother as well as the (unborn) baby and therefore need to be tapered off. Methadone can be used for gradual withdrawal so that the withdrawal symptoms can be avoided. Use of opiates in expectant mothers can lead to birth defects like heart defects in the unborn child while there is also a possibility of development of opioid withdrawal symptoms like seizures, breathing problems, tremors. Methadone has been given to prevent these but it is still undetermined whether the child has any birth defects (which the child has been born with).
The weaning off methadone has to be meticulously done so that the opioid withdrawal symptoms like seizures, breathing problems, tremors do not occur. But the possibility cannot be ruled out and your daughter has to remain in close follow up with the treating physician.
A echocardiography of the baby will make things clear whether there is any heart defect present.
Regards
Opiate use in expectant mothers can lead to birth defects.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Opiates like Subutex (Buprenorphine) develop dependence both in the mother as well as the (unborn) baby and therefore need to be tapered off. Methadone can be used for gradual withdrawal so that the withdrawal symptoms can be avoided. Use of opiates in expectant mothers can lead to birth defects like heart defects in the unborn child while there is also a possibility of development of opioid withdrawal symptoms like seizures, breathing problems, tremors. Methadone has been given to prevent these but it is still undetermined whether the child has any birth defects (which the child has been born with).
The weaning off methadone has to be meticulously done so that the opioid withdrawal symptoms like seizures, breathing problems, tremors do not occur. But the possibility cannot be ruled out and your daughter has to remain in close follow up with the treating physician.
A echocardiography of the baby will make things clear whether there is any heart defect present.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
to take the baby home the doctors have moved the child to a regimen of phenobarbitol for two months is this an accepted practice and how will it affect the baby
Brief Answer:
Doctor has done the right thing in prescribing phenobarbital
Detailed Answer:
Thanks again for writing back.
The doctor has done the right thing in putting the child on phenobarbital. It would prevent seizures from occurring. The only problem with this medicine is that it can lead to excessive sleepiness. Otherwise it is safe and beneficial.
Regards
Doctor has done the right thing in prescribing phenobarbital
Detailed Answer:
Thanks again for writing back.
The doctor has done the right thing in putting the child on phenobarbital. It would prevent seizures from occurring. The only problem with this medicine is that it can lead to excessive sleepiness. Otherwise it is safe and beneficial.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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