Pharmacologic Management of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Using a Protocol
- 1 December 2019
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Advances in Neonatal Care
- Vol. 19 (6), 482-489
- https://doi.org/10.1097/anc.0000000000000648
Abstract
Background: The opioid epidemic in the United States has reached unprecedented proportions with far-reaching impacts on the most vulnerable population. The number of neonates born addicted to opioids has grown exponentially over the last several decades, leading to increased neonatal intensive care unit admissions and rising healthcare costs. Recent studies have yielded mixed results regarding which medication is most effective at relieving the symptoms of opioid withdrawal and reducing the weaning timeframe for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Purpose: To explore and compare the effectiveness of morphine versus methadone in the treatment for NAS using a standardized protocol. Method: A literature search of PubMed and CINAHL was performed. The search yielded 10 quantitative studies that were analyzed for potential practice changes. Conclusion: Based on current literature, following a standardized, stringent weaning protocol is more beneficial than the pharmacologic agent used. Studies reveal shorter weaning times and hospital stays in almost every group that followed rigid guidelines.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- Improving Care for Neonatal Abstinence SyndromePEDIATRICS, 2016
- A Cohort Comparison of Buprenorphine versus Methadone Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence SyndromeThe Journal of Pediatrics, 2015
- Implementation of a Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Weaning Protocol: A Multicenter Cohort StudyPEDIATRICS, 2015
- Methadone versus morphine for treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome: A prospective randomized clinical trialJournal of Perinatology, 2014
- Oral Morphine Weaning for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome at Home Compared with In-Hospital: An Observational Cohort StudyPediatric Drugs, 2014
- A Multicenter Cohort Study of Treatments and Hospital Outcomes in Neonatal Abstinence SyndromePEDIATRICS, 2014
- Neonatal Abstinence SyndromePEDIATRICS, 2014
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Essentials for the PractitionerThe Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2014
- Variation in treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome in US Children's Hospitals, 2004–2011Journal of Perinatology, 2014
- Neonatal Drug WithdrawalPEDIATRICS, 2012