Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms
Published on: March 3, 2021
Opioid and benzodiazepine use during therapeutic hypothermia in encephalopathic neonates
Megan W Berube1,2, Monica E Lemmon3,4,5, Carolyn E Pizoli3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA. mwberube@pediatrics.wisc.edu.
Objectives:
To evaluate the use of sedatives and analgesics during therapeutic hypothermia in encephalopathic neonates and assess associations between medication exposure and hospital outcomes.
Study Design:
We identified neonates ≥35 weeks gestational age treated with therapeutic hypothermia at 125 neonatal intensive care units between 2007 and 2015. We compared characteristics and hospital outcomes between unexposed neonates and neonates exposed to opioids and/or benzodiazepines.
Results:
Opioids were administered to 1 677/2 621 (64%) neonates, and exposure increased from 38% in 2008 to 68% in 2015. Sedation/analgesia varied widely between centers. Opioid-exposed neonates experienced greater durations of respiratory support and were more likely to receive inotropes and inhaled nitric oxide. Mortality during postnatal days 0-3 was lower among opioid-exposed neonates (31/625 [5%]) than unexposed neonates (64/714 [9%]).
Conclusions:
Sedation/analgesia during therapeutic hypothermia is prevalent but not uniform across centers. Prospective studies are needed to assess if exposure independently predicts intensity and duration of physiologic support.
Related Concept Videos
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...

