Bupe more ‘cost-effective’ than methadone during pregnancy

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, “Cost-Effectiveness of Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy and Its Impact on Birth Outcomes,” 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 valuable for pregnant women with OUD.