Hypothetical study finds buprenorphine more cost-effective than methadone for pregnant women with OUD

Abstract

Researchers have looked at whether treatment with methadone or buprenorphine is better in terms of cost-effectiveness outcomes on low birth weight and preterm birth on newborns of mothers treated for opioid use disorder (OUD). The study showed that buprenorphine had greater value than methadone during pregnancy based on lifetime models accounting for infant outcomes. However, both methadone and buprenorphine were found to be valuable for pregnant women with OUD.