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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Relationship between maternal methadone dose at delivery and neonatal abstinence syndrome
Neil S Seligman1, Christopher V Almario, Edward J Hayes
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. n.seligman@hotmail.com
Objective:
To estimate the relationship between maternal methadone dose and the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
Study Design:
We performed a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women treated with methadone for opiate addiction who delivered live-born neonates between 1996 and 2006. Four dose groups, on the basis of total daily methadone dose, were compared (
Results:
A total of 330 women treated with methadone and their 388 offspring were included. Average methadone dose at delivery was 117+/-50 mg/d (range, 20-340 mg/d). Overall, 68% of infants were treated for NAS. Of infants exposed to methadone doses
Conclusion:
No correlation was found between maternal methadone dose and rate of NAS. However, higher doses of methadone were associated with decreased illicit opiate abuse at delivery.
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