A pregnant woman who is addicted to heroin should first be stabilized with which medication before starting treatment with buprenorphine?

In the context of managing opioid dependence in pregnant women, the stabilization process is crucial to ensure both maternal health and fetal well-being. The correct medication to stabilize a pregnant woman addicted to heroin before initiating treatment with buprenorphine is morphine.

Morphine is a full agonist opioid that can effectively manage withdrawal symptoms in an individual who is dependent on opioids like heroin. The goal is to alleviate withdrawal to a point where the patient can safely transition to a long-term maintenance therapy, such as buprenorphine.

Starting with morphine allows for a more controlled tapering process, as it can help stabilize the patient, reduce cravings, and prevent potential complications associated with abrupt withdrawal during pregnancy. Once stabilized, the healthcare provider can carefully transition the patient to buprenorphine, which is safer for the fetus and effective for long-term management of opioid dependence.

Considering the other options, naloxone is an opioid antagonist and is typically used to reverse opioid overdose rather than to stabilize a patient. Methadone is another long-acting opioid that could be considered, but it is generally not the first choice for initial stabilization when the goal is to transition to buprenorphine. Buprenorphine itself is a partial agonist and is