Relationship of neonatal withdrawal to maternal methadone dose

Neonatal withdrawal is described for a sample of 70 infants born to addicted women treated with methadone and comprehensive prenatal care. Although symptoms were manifested by over 90% of the infants, those born to women receiving near-term average doses of less than or equal to 20 mg/day had significantly less symptomatology, weight loss, and need for pharmacologic treatment than those of mothers still on higher doses. Reduction of methadone dose levels during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy to less than or equal to 20 mg/day appears to reduce the severity of neonatal withdrawal.