Abstract
The relationships between prenatal methadone dosage and the soverity of subsequent neonatal methadone withdrawal were studied in 72 clinically well, methadone-maintained women and 19 drug-free controls. Total methadone ingestion during the last trimester, the last methadone dose prior to delivery and the absence of other drugs of abuse were known. The quantities of methadone in intrapartum maternal blood and urine, amniotic fluid, cord blood and neonatal urine were determined and the soverity of neonatal withdrawal was quantitated. Severity of withdrawal was related to last maternal dose of methadone (p < 0.01), total amount ingested durina the last trimester (p < 0.02), and intrapartum maternal serum methadone (p < 0.01). Severity was not related to levels of mothadone in maternal urine, cord blood, amniotic fluid or neonatal urine. These findings indicate that careful monitoring of maternal methadone levels during the last trimester coupled with a knowledge or intrapartum serum methadone levels can predict the degree of neonatal narcotic withdrawal.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harner, R., Solish, G., Feingold, F. et al. PREDICTORS OF THE SEVERITY OF NEONATAL METHADONE WITHDRAWAL. Pediatr Res 11, 417 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00286
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00286