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Research Article: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Infants with Prenatal Exposure to Methadone versus Buprenorphine

Date Published: 2023-06-08

Abstract:
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has been of increasing concern. Studies suggest that prenatal exposure to buprenorphine may be preferred to methadone in regard to neonatal withdrawal. Our aim was to determine whether the incidence and severity of NAS are different between babies prenatally exposed to methadone or buprenorphine in pregnancy. This retrospective analysis of infants ? 35-weeks-old exposed to methadone/buprenorphine alone or in conjunction with other substances in utero. They were divided into four groups: 1—methadone alone (Met), 2—buprenorphine alone (Bup), 3 and 4—those exposed to methadone and buprenorphine, respectively, in conjunction with other drugs (Met+ and Bup+). The frequency of NAS treatment, duration of treatment (LOT) and length of stay (LOS) were compared between groups. Of the 290 mothers, 59% were in the Met group, 18% in the Bup group, 14% in the Met or Bup and another opiate group, and 9% took methadone or buprenorphine plus various other substances. Infants born to Met/Met+ mothers had a four-times higher likelihood of developing NAS (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the LOS (p = 0.08) or LOT (p = 0.11) between groups. The buprenorphine treatment in pregnancy decreased the risk of babies developing NAS. However, once the NAS required pharmacological treatment, the type of maternal prenatal exposure did not affect the LOS or LOT.

Introduction:
The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) has increased substantially over the last two decades [1,2]. The rate of NOWS increased nationally from 4.0 to 7.3 per 1000 birth hospitalizations from 2010 to 2017, accompanied by an increase in the rate of opioid-related conditions (e.g., OUD) in mothers at the time of delivery [3]. During the period 1999–2014, the national prevalence of opioid use disorder increased 333%, from 1.5 to 6.5 cases per 1000 delivery hospitalizations [4]. Opioid use in expectant women had…

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