[Neonatal buprenorphine withdrawal syndrome, what is the right therapy?]

Buprenorphine is a new substance now widely used in detoxification of heroin addicts. In this report we describe the case of a newborn baby who suffered from a neonatal withdrawal syndrome characterized by a severe and prolonged course. This syndrome was followed by marked symptoms of impaired neurological development and by epilepsy. The ineffectiveness of methadone in relieving withdrawal symptoms from buprenorphine and its potential dangerous effects in this case are also outlined, whereas the efficacy of therapy with phenobarbytal is stressed. We think that this case is noteworthy, since the widespread use of buprenorphine among drug addicts will probably provoke an increase in the number of cases of buprenorphine withdrawal syndrome in the next years.