A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a newborn who is experiencing heroin withdrawal. The nurse should anticipate a prescription for which of the following medications?
A.
Methadone
B.
Meperidine
C.
Hydromorphone
D.
Fentanyl
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Methadone.
Explanation:
Newborns experiencing heroin withdrawal are diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). This condition arises when a baby is exposed to drugs, such as heroin, in utero and develops physical dependence on the substance. After birth, the abrupt discontinuation of drug exposure results in withdrawal symptoms, including irritability, high-pitched crying, feeding difficulties, tremors, seizures, and hypertonia.
Methadone is commonly used to manage withdrawal symptoms in neonates born to mothers who used heroin or other opioids during pregnancy. Methadone is an opioid agonist that helps mitigate the severity of withdrawal symptoms by providing controlled, tapered opioid exposure. The goal of methadone treatment is to reduce the discomfort of withdrawal and allow for a gradual decrease in drug dependency.
Methadone is a well-established option in the treatment of NAS because:
- It is long-acting, which means it provides consistent blood levels, reducing the frequency of withdrawal symptoms.
- It can be dosed in a way that allows for careful tapering, minimizing the risk of the newborn experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms abruptly.
- It is supported by clinical guidelines and has been shown to reduce hospital stay duration when appropriately managed.
Meperidine (B), Hydromorphone (C), and Fentanyl (D) are opioid analgesics that have different pharmacological profiles and are not typically used for treating NAS in newborns:
- Meperidine is a short-acting opioid with neurotoxic metabolites, making it unsuitable for neonates.
- Hydromorphone and Fentanyl are potent opioids primarily used for acute pain management rather than opioid withdrawal in neonates.
In conclusion, Methadone is the preferred medication to manage heroin withdrawal symptoms in newborns, ensuring safer and more effective withdrawal symptom control.