During pregnancy, which medication is given to opioid-addicted mothers?

Methadone is the correct choice for managing opioid addiction in pregnant mothers. It serves as a long-acting opioid agonist that can stabilize their condition by reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings without causing the euphoric high associated with other opioids. In pregnancy, maintaining a stable dose of methadone can minimize the risks of opioid withdrawal in both mothers and infants.

Clinical practice shows that methadone is considered a safe and effective treatment to support opioid-dependent pregnant women. It helps to reduce the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) when compared to continued use of illicit opioids. Methadone maintenance therapy allows for better prenatal care and improves maternal-fetal outcomes, as it provides a controlled dose that can be monitored by healthcare providers throughout the pregnancy.

In contrast, the other options like fentanyl, ketamine, and hydromorphone are not appropriate for treating opioid addiction in pregnancy. Fentanyl, while used in pain management, is a potent opioid that may not provide the necessary stabilization for addicted mothers. Ketamine is primarily an anesthetic with different indications and does not address the underlying issues of opioid addiction. Hydromorphone, although used for pain relief, is not indicated for treating opioid use disorder and lacks the long