How Long Does Methamphetamine Remain In System Of Fetus During Pregnancy?

Posted on Mon, 7 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 7 Sep 2015 Answered on

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : my friend is 28 weeks pregnant and she just stopped doing methamphetamine intravenously and i was wondering how long does she have be clean in order for the baby to be clean when he is born

Answered by Dr. Luchuo Engelbert Bain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Three weeks if she has stopped completely. no worries

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for the query,

Babies have very high metabolic rates and generally clear drugs from their bodies more than adults. However, if your friends continuous taking it, it shall for sure pass through the placenta to the baby and could have some bad side effects.

It is good that she has stopped. Under normal circumstances, in case she does not tale the drug any longer, within the next three weeks, no traces of the drug should be found in the baby's system.

However, most of the side effects that can effect the baby are due to the quantity she might have taken, if she did, during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Most babies are generally affected more during this time rather than later.

I suggest you advice her of course not to take this drug again, especially during pregnancy, for her interest and that of the sweet baby.

Thanks and kind regards as I wish you the best of health.

Dr Bain

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T