Neonatal outcome following methadone exposure in utero

To examine the relationship between maternal methadone exposure and neonatal head circumference and abstinence syndrome, we examined the records of 172 opiate-addicted gravidas enrolled in a methadone maintenance program in an urban hospital over a 2-year period. Higher doses of methadone in the third trimester were associated with increased head circumference reflecting both increased gestational duration and improved overall growth. Neonatal withdrawal was positively correlated with gestational age at delivery and race, with nonblack infants exhibiting higher neonatal abstinence scores than blacks following adjustment for maternal dose and gestational age at delivery. Selection of optimal methadone dosage is a complex problem in which the favorable neurobehavioral outcome associated with increased growth and gestational age must be weighed against the risks associated with more severe neonatal withdrawal. Our findings of improved overall fetal growth and gestational duration associated with higher methadone doses suggest that more liberal methadone dosing in pregnancy may improve long-term neonatal outcome.