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Does Usage Of Subutex By IV Or Sublingually Affect The Fetus?
Hi, My sister is 5 months pregnant, as an ex-opiate addict she is prescribed subutex. The problem is she is using it intravenously instead of sublinguil, as prescribed. I don t think she has been shooting it the entire time, I believe her when she says she s only been taking the medication IV route for about 2 months. How will her taking the medication through IV use versus the prescribed sublinguil route affect the fetus?
Wed, 7 May 2014
Hi,
Taking Subutex intravenously instead of sub-lingually causes greater damage to the fetus because it gets exposed to a greater amount of the drug. Please inform your sister's doctor about her abuse of Subutex so that she can be prescribed Suboxone instead of Subutex. Suboxone contains naloxone as well which prevents the possibility of intravenous use. Buprenorphine, which both subutex and suboxone contain, is an opioid and is therefore harmful for the baby just like other opioids.
Best wishes.
Taking Subutex intravenously instead of sub-lingually causes greater damage to the fetus because it gets exposed to a greater amount of the drug. Please inform your sister's doctor about her abuse of Subutex so that she can be prescribed Suboxone instead of Subutex. Suboxone contains naloxone as well which prevents the possibility of intravenous use. Buprenorphine, which both subutex and suboxone contain, is an opioid and is therefore harmful for the baby just like other opioids.
Best wishes.
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