Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome after Methadone or Buprenorphine Exposure

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome after Methadone or Buprenorphine Exposure — NEJM: Methadone, a full mu-opioid agonist, is the recommended treatment for opioid dependence during pregnancy. However, prenatal exposure to methadone is associated with a neonatal abstinence syndrome characterized by central nervous system hyperirritability and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which often requires medication and extended hospitalization. Buprenorphine is found to be an acceptable treatment for opioid dependence in pregnant women.