Maternal methadone treatment and neonatal abstinence syndrome

This article aims to describe neonatal outcomes, clinical correlates, and the rate for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) for women on methadone maintenance therapy.

This study is a retrospective review, which includes 119 mothers and 120 live newborns.

Methadone mothers tends to be white, single, on government insurance, with increased tobacco use (73%) and hepatitis C (11%). Prematurity increased (28%), and the term infant had a higher risk for admission for respiratory symptoms (22, 7%, p < 0.001). Overall, 78% newborns developed NAS, with the onset of symptoms 4.3 ± 2.9 days, and average length of stay of 36.7 ± 26.4 days. There was a decreased overall gestational age for those infants who did not have NAS (36, 38 weeks, p = 0.04). Overall, 56% had possible illicit drug supplementation. Self-reporting had a 59% negative predictive value with a positive drug screen. No difference in maternal methadone dosage and newborns with and without NAS. Increasing gestational age will increase the odds for NAS.

Newborns are at higher risk for prematurity and admission for respiratory symptoms. Utilizing a 7-day observation period, 78% of newborns were diagnosed with NAS with a mean onset of symptoms of 4.3 days. There was no difference in methadone dosage between babies with and without NAS. Increasing gestational age increases the risk for NAS.