Delayed Norfentanyl Clearance During Pregnancy
Amita Wanar, Kelley Saia, Thomas A. Field
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We report a case of delayed norfentanyl clearance in a 33-year-old pregnant woman. Norfentanyl is the major metabolite of fentanyl. CASE: A multigravid woman with opioid use disorder presented at 7 weeks of gestation for treatment. Despite opioid abstinence, her urine was positive for norfentanyl on 10 distinct gas chromatography-mass spectrometry urine screens. The results demonstrated a steady decrease of norfentanyl over the course of 70 days after her last fentanyl usage, far exceeding expected rates of fentanyl clearance. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of acknowledging pregnancy, genetic, or medication-induced changes to fentanyl pharmacokinetics when interpreting urine tests, especially given the potential sequelae of a false-positive urine test result.