Buprenorphine: a newer drug for treating neonatal abstinence syndrome

Abstract

Neonates may be exposed to various legal and illicit substances during gestation, including cigarettes, alcohol, narcotics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and stimulants. Many of these substances can result in varying degrees of drug withdrawal after delivery. Polysubstance use can complicate the clinical evaluation of a newborn both in terms of assessment of withdrawal and treatment of symptoms. For the purpose of this column, the focus is on those infants with in utero narcotic exposure. The primary circumstances under which pregnant women use narcotics are illicit drug abuse, prescribed narcotic maintenance as treatment for abuse, and treatment of chronic pain conditions.