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Venlafaxine-induced encephalopathy in term newborn
Walid M Maalouli1, Brian S Hilliard1
1Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Children's Hospital, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
SAGE Open Medical Case Reports
|September 14, 2020
Summary
Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) venlafaxine use during pregnancy may cause neonatal abstinence syndrome in newborns. This case highlights the risk and suggests a management framework for exposed infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like venlafaxine are increasingly prescribed for depression in women of childbearing age.
- In utero exposure to venlafaxine has been anecdotally linked to neonatal encephalopathy, mimicking neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
Observation:
- A case report details a 5-day-old infant exposed to venlafaxine throughout gestation.
- The infant presented with hypothermia, poor feeding, and reduced activity, with a negative sepsis workup.
Findings:
- The infant required two weeks of nasogastric tube feeding but showed spontaneous recovery without long-term sequelae.
- This case underscores the potential for significant venlafaxine withdrawal symptoms in neonates.
Implications:
- Highlights the non-trivial risks of in utero venlafaxine exposure.
- Emphasizes the need for vigilant observation of neonates exposed to venlafaxine.
- Proposes a management framework for clinical practice concerning these infants.
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