Evidence · Randomised trial
Treatment of opioid withdrawal in neonates with morphine, phenobarbital, or chlorpromazine: a randomized double-blind trial.
- Comfort and nursing care
- Medical
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome
- Nursing
- Postnatal and transitional care
This paper is from 2020, more than five years ago. Newer evidence may have been published since.
Summary
Multicentre double-blind randomised trial comparing morphine, chlorpromazine and phenobarbital for pharmacological treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome in opioid-exposed neonates. Treatment was started and escalated according to a modified Finnegan score, with a second drug added if symptoms were not controlled. Length of treatment did not differ significantly between groups, but morphine alone controlled symptoms in almost all infants, whereas a second drug was frequently needed with chlorpromazine and phenobarbital. The authors suggest morphine may be preferred and should be compared with more potent opioids such as buprenorphine.
Summary written for NICUlearn. Always read the original.
- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
The full text of this openly licensed paper is available to NICUlearn members, and Neeky can answer questions from it.
Guidelines are shown for education. Follow your unit's own guidance and senior advice.