Neurobehavioral outcomes of infants exposed to buprenorphine-naloxone compared with naltrexone during pregnancy

Naltrexone is a medication used to treat both opioid and alcohol use disorder with limited experience in pregnant individuals, particularly in comparison to more commonly utilized treatments such as buprenorphine-naloxone. The long-term outcomes of infants exposed to naltrexone has not been previously examined. To compare the neurobehavioral outcomes of naltrexone versus buprenorphine-naloxone exposed infants. Multi-centered prospective cohort study. Pregnant people on prescribed buprenorphine-naloxone or naltrexone were enrolled during pregnancy and the dyad followed until 12 months after delivery. Infants were evaluated at 4–6 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA) using the NICU Neonatal Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) and at the 12-month CGA visit using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3). There were 7 dyads in the naltrexone group and 34 in the buprenorphine-naloxone group. On the NNNS, infants exposed to naltrexone had higher median scores for arousal and excitability, and lower median scores for attention and regulation at 4–6 weeks CGA compared to the buprenorphine-naloxone group. None of the infants in the naltrexone group were monitored for NOWS and had shorter length of hospital stay compared with the buprenorphine-naloxone group. Although no statistically significant differences were observed, more infants in the buprenorphine-naloxone group were identified as at risk for development delays in the communication, problem solving, and personal social domains of the ASQ-3 at 12 months CGA. Results should be interpreted with caution given this study's small sample size and lack of a prospective comparison cohort. In this small cohort, there are differences noted in infant neurobehavior by NNNS at 4–6 weeks of age when comparing the buprenorphine-naloxone and naltrexone groups. At 12 months, ASQ-3 scores were similar but with percentage differences in potential development delay risk observed between the two groups. Larger cohort studies are needed to determine the long-term child outcomes after naltrexone exposure in pregnancy. •Neurobehavior of infants exposed to naltrexone vs buprenorphine-naloxone were compared.•Infants exposed to naltrexone demonstrated differences in neurobehavior at 4–6 weeks.•Infants in the naltrexone group had shorter hospitalizations with no NOWS diagnoses.