Treating Pregnant Opioid Dependent Women: Examining Buprenorphine and Methadone Hendrée E. Jones, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland

AATOD 2004 Presentation Goals Use of medication to treat opioid dependence during pregnancy Review of published prenatal buprenorphine exposure data Randomized double-blind study

AATOD 2004 Studies of Medication During Pregnancy Controversial Some say unethical Stigma associated with medication treatment for pregnant women is severe

AATOD 2004 Goals of Opioid Agonist Treatment Cessation of opioid use Stabilize intrauterine environment Increased prenatal care compliance Enhanced pregnancy outcomes

AATOD 2004 Methadone is effective during pregnancy Methadone is recommended for the treatment of opioid dependent pregnant women Over 30 years of experience and research Does not appear to have teratogenic potential

AATOD 2004 Methadone is not a “Magic Bullet” Medication Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) – Neuralgic excitability (hyperactivity, irritability, sleep disturbance) –Gastrointestinal dysfunction (uncoordinated sucking/swallowing, vomiting) –Autonomic Signs (fever, sweating, nasal stuffiness)

AATOD 2004 The NAS of Opioid Exposed Neonates 55-90% exhibit NAS Methadone dose relationship to NAS severity is inconsistent Onset within 48 to 72 hours after birth Subacute signs for a year

AATOD 2004 Buprenorphine Subutex or Suboxone Buprenorphine reported to produce less physical dependence in adults Full Agonist Full Antagonist Heroin Methadone Morphine Naltrexone Naloxone Buprenorphine Nalmefene

AATOD 2004 Case Reports and Open-Label Studies Since 1995, 23 reports of prenatal exposure to buprenorphine Approximately 338 babies and number of cases ranged from 1 to 153 (median=6) 61% NAS with 48% requiring treatment –NAS appears in hrs, –peaks hrs –Duration hrs

AATOD 2004 Purpose Compare methadone and buprenorphine in pregnant opioid-dependent women and to provide preliminary safety and efficacy data for a larger multi-center trial

AATOD 2004 Randomized Controlled Study –Double-blind (staff and patient) –Double-dummy (two medications) –Two groups: Methadone or Buprenorphine –Flexible dosing  Methadone mg  Buprenorphine 4-24 mg

AATOD 2004 Setting: Center for Addiction & Pregnancy Interdisciplinary Approach –Psychiatry –Obstetrics –Pediatrics –Nursing

AATOD 2004 Criteria Inclusion: – years of age – Gestational age weeks – Opioid dependent (DSM-IV, SCID I) – Opioid positive urine

AATOD 2004 Criteria Exclusion: – Methadone positive urine at admission – DSM IV axis I current diagnosis other than psychoactive substance use – Serious medical or psychiatric illness – Diagnosis of preterm labor – Congenital fetal malformation – Current alcohol abuse/dependence – Benzodiazepine use  (8 or more times/month and/or 2 or more times /week)

AATOD 2004 Primary Outcome Measures Infant Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Length of Hospital Stay (LOS)

AATOD 2004 Selected Secondary Outcome Measures Maternal –Days of treatment –Prenatal care visits –Illicit drug use Infant –Physical birth parameters

AATOD 2004 Patient Flow Number screened 1490 Not Qualify Initially 1433 Qualify and sign consent 57 Randomized 30 Buprenorphine 15 Methadone 15 Buprenorphine 9 Methadone 11

AATOD 2004 Induction Patients stabilized on immediate release morphine (IRM) prior to randomization Is transition from IRM to methadone or buprenorphine similar? Withdrawal scores over first 3 days appeared mild for both medications

AATOD 2004 Induction Adapted from Jones,H.E. et al., In press. Drug and Alcohol Dependence

AATOD 2004 Maternal Outcome Drug Use During Pregnancy opioid cocaine amphetamine barbiturates benzodiazepine THC Methadone N=11 Buprenorphine N=9 % + Urine Samples

AATOD 2004 % African-American Gestation (weeks) Education (yrs) % Employed Age (yrs) Smoked Cigarettes Methadone N=11 Buprenorphine N=9 Maternal Characteristics

AATOD 2004 Maternal Outcomes Days in Treatment Prenatal care visits LOS mom C section % Tox. + delivery (mom)% Normal presentation % Preterm birth % Gestational age delivery Ave. dose at delivery (mg) Methadone N=11 Buprenorphine N=9

AATOD 2004 Birth Outcomes Methadone N=11 Buprenorphine N=9 deliveries (10 babies) * data safety monitoring board recommended removing twin data from these variables % Treated for NAS Morphine Drops Birth Weight (gm)* LOS baby % NICU treatment APGAR APGAR Length (cm)* Head Cir. (cm)*

AATOD 2004 NAS Time Course

AATOD 2004 Limitations of Study Small sample size I/E criteria limits generalizability Nicotine exposure and effect on NAS needs more study Long-term outcomes beyond scope of study

AATOD 2004 Conclusions Both methadone and buprenorphine provide positive benefits to mothers 100% of infants had NAS signs/symptoms Tendency for fewer buprenorphine-exposed babies to be treated for NAS Significantly fewer days of hospitalization with buprenorphine exposure

AATOD 2004 Bottom Line Both medications have strong support to document safety and efficacy for mother and infant NAS is only part of the complete risk:benefit ratio A greater range of medication options will improve the treatment of pregnant women

AATOD 2004 Future Directions Multi-center trial comparing methadone and buprenorphine 8 sites submitted applications May provide data needed to change FDA labeling for methadone and buprenorphine Develop infrastructure for studying other medications and women’s health issues during pregnancy

AATOD 2004 Acknowledgements Patients and infants Rolley “Ed” Johnson NIDA R01 DA12220 (P.I.Johnson/Jones) Co-Investigators Staff at Center for Addiction and Pregnancy Staff at BPRU