Intravenous pentazocine and methylphenidate abuse during pregnancy. Maternal lifestyle and infant outcome.

Objective: To report the effects of intravenous abuse of pentazocine hydrochloride and methylphenidate hydrochloride during pregnancy.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Patients: All pregnant women and their offspring, whose hospital records indicated prenatal abuse of pentazocine and methylphenidate during the 2-year study period.

Results: The median for maternal age was 22 years and the median number of prenatal visits was two. Twenty mothers had sexually transmitted diseases, 27 abused alcohol, 10 abused other drugs, and all smoked cigarettes. Eight infants were premature, and 12 were growth retarded. Four infants had congenital anomalies: fetal alcohol syndrome (two [twins]), structural heart defect (one), and polydactyly (one). Eleven infants were treated for neonatal abstinence syndrome. Seventeen infants had normal developmental quotients, and four had low-normal developmental quotients.

Conclusions: Intrauterine exposure to pentazocine and methylphenidate appears to be associated with prematurity, growth retardation, and signs of neonatal withdrawal, but not with any particular teratogenic anomaly or severe developmental delay.