PENTAZOCINE

Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation.

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Name: PENTAZOCINE
Class: Narcotic Agonist-Antagonist Analgesic
Risk Factor:    C*

Fetal Risk Summary

No reports linking the use of pentazocine with congenital defects have been located. As reported by the manufacturer, reproductive studies in animals did not found embryotoxic or teratogenic effects (1). In a 1975 Reference, however, increasing single SC doses of pentazocine (98–570 mg/kg) administered to hamsters during the critical period of central nervous system (CNS) organogenesis resulted in a significant increase in the number of offspring with malformations (exencephaly, cranioschisis, and various other CNS lesions) (2). Maternal death was observed in 10% of the mothers at the highest dose, but not with the lower doses.

The drug rapidly crosses the placenta, resulting in cord blood levels of 40%–70% of maternal serum (3). Withdrawal has been reported in infants exposed in utero to chronic maternal ingestion of pentazocine (4,5,6,7 and 8) . Symptoms, presenting within 24–48 hours of birth, consist of trembling and jitteriness, marked hyperirritability, hyperactivity with hypertonia, high-pitched cry, diaphoresis, diarrhea, vomiting, and opisthotonic posturing.

During labor, increased overall uterine activity has been observed after pentazocine, but without changes in fetal heart rate (9). In equianalgesic doses, most studies report no significant differences between meperidine and pentazocine in pain relief, length of labor, or Apgar scores (10,11,12,13,14 and 15) . However, meperidine in one study was observed to produce significantly lower Apgar scores than pentazocine, especially in repeated doses (16). Severe neonatal respiratory depression may also occur with pentazocine (10,16).

A 1982 report from New Orleans described 24 infants born of mothers using the IV combination of pentazocine/tripelennamine (T's and blue's) (17). Doses were unknown, but probably ranged from 200 to 600 mg of pentazocine and 100 to 250 mg of tripelennamine. Six of the newborns were exposed early in pregnancy. Birth weights for 11 of the infants were less than 2500 g; 9 of these were premature (<37 weeks) and 2 were small for gestational age. Daily or weekly exposure throughout pregnancy produced withdrawal symptoms, occurring within 7 days of birth, in 15 of 16 infants. Withdrawal was thought to be related to pentazocine, but antihistamine withdrawal has been reported (see Diphenhydramine). Thirteen of 15 infants became asymptomatic 3–11 days following onset of withdrawal, but symptoms persisted for up to 6 months in 2.

Three cases of maternal bacterial endocarditis were observed following IV drug abuse, one of which involved the injection of pentazocine/tripelennamine intermittently throughout pregnancy (18). Following satisfactory antibiotic treatment for the infection, the mother gave birth at term to a healthy, male infant.

In a study published in 1983, three groups of pregnant women were evaluated in a perinatal addiction program in the Chicago area (19). One group (N=13) was composed of women addicted to pentazocine/tripelennamine. A second group consisted of women who conceived while self-administering heroin, and who were then converted to low-dose (5–40 mg/day) methadone (N=46). The third group consisted of drug-free controls (N=27). The three groups were statistically similar as to mean maternal age, educational level, gravidity, cigarette smoking, and mean weight gain during pregnancy. Heavy alcohol users were excluded. All infants were delivered at term. Apgar scores were similar among the three groups of newborns, and no significant perinatal complications were observed. Mean birth weight, length, and head circumference were similar between the two drug groups. Compared with the drug-free controls, the pentazocine/tripelennamine-exposed infants weighed less (2799 vs. 3479 g, p<0.0001), were shorter (48.1 vs. 51.1 cm, p<0.002), and had smaller heads (32.9 vs. 34.7 cm, p<0.003). Neonatal withdrawal was observed in both drug-exposed infant groups. Withdrawal characteristics observed in the pentazocine/tripelennamine infants were similar to those seen in the methadone group, consisting of irritability, voracious sucking, and feeding difficulties (19). However, none of these infants required therapy for their symptoms. Neonatal behavior was evaluated using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale. Results of these tests indicated that the infants exposed to the drug combination had interactive deficits and withdrawal similar to the methadone-addicted babies (19).

In 1986, nearly the same data as above were published but with the addition of a group exposed to mixed sedative/stimulant (N=22) and a group exposed to phencyclidine (N=9) (20). The outcome of the pentazocine/tripelennamine group was the same as above.

Another study described the effects of pentazocine/tripelennamine abuse in 50 pregnancies identified retrospectively from a total of 23,779 deliveries occurring between January 1, 1981, and June 30, 1983 (21). Compared with matched controls, users of the combination were more likely to have no prenatal care (p<0.005), to be anemic (p<0.001), and to have syphilis (p<0.001), gonorrhea (p<0.01), or hepatitis (p<0.005). Moreover, their infants were more likely to be small for gestational age (p<0.01), to have lower birth weights (3260 g vs. 2592 g, p<0.01), to have a 1-minute Apgar score less than 7 (p<0.025), and to have neonatal withdrawal (p<0.001). No congenital abnormalities were observed in the infants exposed to the drug combination.

A study published in 1993 examined the effects on the fetus and newborn of IV pentazocine and methylphenidate abuse during pregnancy (22). During a 2-year (1987–1988) period, 39 infants (38 pregnancies, 1 set of twins) were identified in the study population as being subjected to the drug abuse during gestation, a minimum incidence of 5 cases per 1,000 live births. Many of the mothers had used cigarettes (34%) or alcohol (71%) or abused other drugs (26%). The median duration of IV pentazocine and methylphenidate abuse was 3 years (range 1–9 years), with a median frequency of 14 injections/week (range 1–70 injections/week). Among the infants, 8 were delivered prematurely, 12 were growth-retarded, and 11 had withdrawal symptoms after birth. Four of the infants had birth defects, including twins with fetal alcohol syndrome, one with a ventricular septal defect, and one case of polydactyly. Of the 21 infants that had formal developmental testing, 17 had normal development and 4 had low-normal developmental quotients (22).

In summary, pentazocine does not appear to cause structural malformations in humans, but behavioral teratogenicity, either from the drug itself, the mother's lifestyle, other drug abuse, or a combination of these factors, is a common finding. Moreover, its abuse during pregnancy is associated with intrauterine growth retardation and withdrawal in the newborn.

[*Risk Factor D if used for prolonged periods or in high doses at term.]

Breast Feeding Summary

No reports describing the use of pentazocine during lactation have been located. The relatively low molecular weight (about 285), however, probably indicates that the drug is excreted into milk. The effects of this predicted exposure on a nursing infant are unknown, but small, infrequent doses most likely present a minimal risk.

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References

  1. Product information. Talwin. Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, 1997.
  2. Geber WF, Schramm LC. Congenital malformations of the central nervous system produced by narcotic analgesics in the hamster. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1975;123:705–13.
  3. Beckett AH, Taylor JF. Blood concentrations of pethidine and pentazocine in mother and infant at time of birth. J Pharm Pharmacol 1967;19(Suppl):50s–2s.
  4. Goetz RL, Bain RV. Neonatal withdrawal symptoms associated with maternal use of pentazocine. J Pediatr 1974;84:887–8.
  5. Scanlon JW. Pentazocine and neonatal withdrawal symptoms. J Pediatr 1974;85:735–6.
  6. Kopelman AE. Fetal addiction to pentazocine. Pediatrics 1975;55:888–9.
  7. Reeds TO. Withdrawal symptoms in a neonate associated with maternal pentazocine abuse. J Pediatr 1975;87:324.
  8. Preis O, Choi SJ, Rudolph N. Pentazocine withdrawal syndrome in the newborn infant. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1977;127:205–6.
  9. Filler WW, Filler NW. Effect of a potent non-narcotic analgesic agent (pentazocine) on uterine contractility and fetal heart rate. Obstet Gynecol 1966;28:224–32.
  10. Freedman H, Tafeen CH, Harris H. Parenteral Win 20,228 as analgesic in labor. NY State J Med 1967;67:2849–51.
  11. Duncan SLB, Ginsburg J, Morris NF. Comparison of pentazocine and pethidine in normal labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1969;105:197–202.
  12. Moore J, Hunter RJ. A comparison of the effects of pentazocine and pethidine administered during labor. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw 1970;77:830–6.
  13. Mowat J, Garrey MM. Comparison of pentazocine and pethidine in labour. Br Med J 1970;2:757–9.
  14. Levy DL. Obstetric analgesia. Pentazocine and meperidine in normal primiparous labor. Obstet Gynecol 1971;38:907–11.
  15. Moore J, Ball HG. A sequential study of intravenous analgesic treatment during labour. Br J Anaesth 1974;46:365–72.
  16. Refstad SO, Lindbaek E. Ventilatory depression of the newborn of women receiving pethidine or pentazocine. Br J Anaesth 1980;52:265–70.
  17. Dunn DW, Reynolds J. Neonatal withdrawal symptoms associated with “T's and Blue's” (pentazocine and tripelennamine). Am J Dis Child 1982;136:644–5.
  18. Pastorek JG, Plauche WC, Faro S. Acute bacterial endocarditis in pregnancy: a report of three cases. J Reprod Med 1983;28:611–4.
  19. Chasnoff IJ, Hatcher R, Burns WJ, Schnoll SH. Pentazocine and tripelennamine (“T's and blue's”): effects on the fetus and neonate. Dev Pharmacol Ther 1983;6:162–9.
  20. Chasnoff IJ, Burns KA, Burns WJ, Schnoll SH. Prenatal drug exposure: effects on neonatal and infant growth and development. Neurobehavior Toxicol Teratol 1986;8:357–62.
  21. von Almen WF II, Miller JM Jr. “Ts and Blues” in pregnancy. J Reprod Med 1986;31:236–9.
  22. Debooy VD, Seshia MMK, Tenenbein M, Casiiro OG. Intravenous pentazocine and methylphenidate abuse during pregnancy. Maternal lifestyle and infant outcome. Am J Dis Child 1993;147:1062–5.

Index

Q&A about Pentazocine

bosox494...
What would Pentazocine Naloxone be compared to?
muddypup...
Strong tylenol 3??

..
framing4...
Is Talwin NXยฎ (PENTAZOCINE NALOXONE) a strong medication?
How is it compared to Hydrocodone 5,7.5 and 10mg?
dooberhe...
Talwin is an effective opiate pain reliever comparable to codiene and hydrocodone. It is a partial antagonist, meaning it causes less euphoria, and in opiate addicted patients, can cause withdrawal symptoms. The "NX" means it contains naloxone (a pure opiate antagonist), so if the pills are dissolved and injected, it will cause severe withdrawal symptoms. The naloxone is ineffective orally.

Comparability depends on dose. 10 mg of hydrocodone is approximately equal to 50 mg of pentazocine.

DK
Lucy L
what is Pentazocine/Naloxone ?
jayarama...
Pentazocine is a synthetically-prepared narcotic drug used to treat mild to moderate pain. Pentazocine is sold under several brand names, such as Talwin.

In the 1980s, recreational drug users discovered that combining pentazocine with the antihistamine tripellenamine (most commonly dispensed under the brand name Pyribenzamine) produced a euphoric sensation much like that brought on by heroin, and users who were already addicted to the latter often used this combination when heroin was unavailable to them. Since tripellenamine tablets are typically blue in color, the pentazocine/tripellenamine combination acquired the slang name Ts and blues. After health-care professionals and drug-enforcement officials became aware of this scenario, the narcotic-antagonist naloxone was added to preparations containing pentazocine, and the reported incidence of its abuse has declined precipitously since.

Naloxone is a drug used to counter the effects of opioid overdose, for example heroin and morphine overdose. Specifically, naloxone is used in opioid overdoses for countering life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system. It is marketed under trade names including Narcan, Nalone, and Narcanti and has sometimes been mistakenly called "naltrexate." It is also not to be confused with Naltrexone, another opioid antagonist that has qualitatively different effects-.
Jaideep
Riversal of Creatinine/Urea by withdrawl of Pentazocine(Fortwin)?
Abused on prescription for one and half years which resulted in creatinine growing up to 4.2 and urea upto 90 and heblobin 8.3%.
mevlana
You should check with a urologist on that...creatinine and urea increase could be kidney damage...or maybe just a temporary increase?