Gabapentin in Infants: Critical Evaluation of a Novel Sedative/Analgesic Medication

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-272
Author(s):  
Christopher McPherson
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Visceral Pain ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Visceral Hyperalgesia ◽  
Pain Syndromes

Chronic pain and agitation can complicate the clinical course of critically ill infants. Randomized controlled trials of analgesia and sedation in neonatal intensive care have focused on relatively short durations of exposure. To date, clinicians have few options to treat chronic visceral pain and hyperalgesia. Gabapentin has emerged as a common therapy for a diverse group of pain syndromes and neurologic conditions in adults. In neonates, case reports and series describe the successful treatment of visceral hyperalgesia arising from gastrointestinal insults with or without concomitant neurologic morbidities. Additionally, a case report and series describe the utility of gabapentin for neonatal abstinence syndrome refractory to standard pharmacotherapy. The adverse effect profile of gabapentin, most notably bradycardia and sedation, compares favorably to alternative analgesics and sedatives. However, the long-term impacts of prolonged gabapentin therapy have not been studied. Therefore, candidates for therapy must be selected carefully, and response must be assessed objectively. Future studies must assess the short-term and long-term benefits and risks of gabapentin compared to standard therapies for chronic pain and agitation in infants and refractory neonatal abstinence syndrome.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Cardiovascular Effects of Clonidine in Neonates Treated for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 473-478
Author(s):  
Raymond P. Meddock ◽  
Deirdre Bloemer
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Dose Range ◽  
Safety Data ◽  
Cardiovascular Effects ◽  
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome

OBJECTIVES Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is characterized by withdrawal symptoms in neonates exposed to legal or illegal substances in utero, and it is often managed with medications such as opiates, phenobarbital, and clonidine. Clonidine use is increasing, but further safety data regarding its use in neonates are warranted. This study evaluated the effects of clonidine on heart rate and blood pressure in neonates treated for NAS at doses up to 24 mcg/kg/day. METHODS A retrospective review via the electronic medical record of infants at least 35 weeks' gestation treated adjunctively with clonidine for NAS in the neonatal intensive care unit at St Elizabeth was conducted. Heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded at baseline, while on different dose ranges of clonidine (small: ≤1.5 mcg/kg per dose every 3 hours; medium: >1.5 to 2 mcg/kg per dose every 3 hours; and large: >2 mcg/kg to 3 mcg/kg per dose every 3 hours), and upon discontinuation. RESULTS A total of 64 infants treated with clonidine for NAS between August 2015 and December 2016 were included. Heart rate decreased in all clonidine dose ranges compared with baseline (average reduction of 7 bpm [CI: −12 to −2], 9 bpm [CI: −16 to −2], and 10 bpm [CI: −18 to −1] for the small, medium, and large dose ranges, respectively; p < 0.0001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly different from baseline when infants were receiving any dose of clonidine, except diastolic blood pressure while on medium–dose range clonidine, where diastolic blood pressure was higher than baseline (p = 0.0128). Increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were evident upon discontinuation of clonidine (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0156, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Clonidine doses up to 24 mcg/kg/day are well tolerated in neonates ≥35 weeks' gestation treated for NAS. Any decreases in heart rate are likely clinically insignificant, and increases in blood pressure upon discontinuing clonidine are mild and may be mitigated further with extended discontinuation protocols. Further trials should be conducted to evaluate the long-term safety of clonidine in this population.

scholarly journals The Safety and Effect of Local Botulinumtoxin A Injections for Long-Term Management of Chronic Pain in Post-Herpetic Neuralgia: Literature Review and Cases Report Treated with Incobotulinumtoxin A

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 758
Author(s):  
Songjin Ri ◽  
Anatol Kivi ◽  
Jörg Wissel
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Pain Reduction ◽  
Post Herpetic Neuralgia ◽  
Botulinumtoxin A ◽  
Incobotulinumtoxin A ◽  
Term Management

There are few reports on the safety and effectiveness of long-term botulinumtoxin A (BoNT A) therapy in severe chronic pain of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The literature was searched with the term “neuropathic pain” and “botulinum” on PubMed (up to 29 February 2020). Pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before and after BoNT A therapy. A total of 10 clinical trials and six case reports including 251 patients with PHN were presented. They showed that BoNT A therapy had significant pain reduction (up to 30–50%) and improvement in quality of life. The effect duration seems to be correlated with BoNT A doses injected per injection site. Intervals between BoNT A injections were 10–14 weeks. No adverse events were reported in cases and clinical studies, even in the two pregnant women, whose babies were healthy. The repeated (≥6 times) intra/subcutaneous injections of incobotulinumtoxin A (Xeomin®, Merz Pharmaceuticals, Germany) over the two years of our three cases showed marked pain reduction and no adverse events. Adjunctive local BoNT A injection is a promising option for severe PHN, as a safe and effective therapy in long-term management for chronic neuropathic pain. Its effect size and -duration seem to be depended on the dose of BoNT A injected per each point.

scholarly journals Project Console: a quality improvement initiative for neonatal abstinence syndrome in a children’s hospital level IV neonatal intensive care unit

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e001079
Author(s):  
Kathryn L Ponder ◽  
Charles Egesdal ◽  
Joanne Kuller ◽  
Priscilla Joe
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Quality Improvement Initiative ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
High Acuity

ObjectiveTo improve care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.DesignInfants with a gestational age of ≥35 weeks with prenatal opioid exposure were eligible for our quality improvement initiative. Interventions in our Plan–Do–Study–Act cycles included physician consensus, re-emphasis on non-pharmacological treatment, the Eat Sleep Console method to measure functional impairment, morphine as needed, clonidine and alternative soothing methods for parental unavailability (volunteer cuddlers and automated sleeper beds). Pre-intervention and post-intervention outcomes were compared.ResultsLength of stay decreased from 31.8 to 10.5 days (p<0.0001) without an increase in readmissions. Composite pharmacotherapy exposure days decreased from 28.7 to 5.5 (p<0.0001). This included reductions in both morphine exposure days (p<0.0001) and clonidine exposure days (p=0.01). Fewer infants required pharmacotherapy (p=0.02).ConclusionsOur study demonstrates how a comprehensive initiative can improve care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in an open-bay or a high-acuity neonatal intensive care unit when rooming-in is not available or other comorbidities are present.

scholarly journals Methadone for Treatment of Pregnant Opiate Addicted Women: Is There a Safer Alternative? A Review of Literature

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Tichelkamp ◽  
Thomas Parish
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Methadone Dose ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Opiate Use ◽  
Hospital Stays ◽  
Opiate Addicts ◽  
Alternative Medications

Methadone is commonly used for the treatment of pregnant opiate-addicts. But, it can have severe effects on the neonate including Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, increased length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, and intrauterine growth retardation. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome includes neurological excitability, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and autonomic signs. Because of these adverse effects, studies have been conducted to determine what can help reduce the severe complications caused by methadone. Varied dosages of methadone and alternative medications, such as buprenorphine, slow-release morphine, and others have been studied. Most of the alternative medications, especially buprenorphine, are gaining popularity in Europe where there is a growing problem of opiate use during pregnancy. In the studies comparing methadone and buprenorphine, a slight decline in symptoms of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome as well as shorter hospital stays for the neonates exposed to buprenorphine was noted. Studies of different dosages of methadone were conducted to determine the lowest methadone dose that is both effective for the mother and safe for the neonate. All of the studies have provided information that is helping in the search for the safest and most effective treatment for opiate addiction. What is known is that helping the mother overcome the addiction is very important. So far, the data collected are not strong enough to make a conclusion on the best choice for treatment. Further research is indicated for methadone itself and also for all its possible alternatives.

Long-term effects of spinal cord stimulation in chronic pain syndromes

1986 ◽  
Vol 233 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. P. Vogel ◽  
B. Heppner ◽  
N. H�mbs ◽  
J. Schramm ◽  
C. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Spinal Cord Stimulation ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pain Syndromes ◽  
Chronic Pain Syndromes

Nurses' Finnegan Scoring of Newborns with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Not Affected by Time or Day of the Week

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (02) ◽  
pp. 224-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alla Kushnir ◽  
Jennifer L. Bleznak ◽  
Judy G. Saslow ◽  
Gary Stahl
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Abstinence Syndrome ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
Day Of The Week ◽  
Scoring Tool

Abstract Objective Newborns exposed to drugs in utero are at risk of developing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), characterized by behavioral changes and physiologic instability. Finnegan scoring tool quantifies severity of symptoms and guides treatment. This article evaluates whether time of day and the number of shift hours affects modified Finnegan scores, and the subjective component of these scores. Study Design Institutional review board-approved, retrospective chart review of newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care or transitional nursery from 2011 to 2014. Inclusion criteria: > 35 weeks' gestation, known maternal substance use, positive maternal or newborn urine, or meconium drug screen, NAS treatment. Results A total of 101 charts were evaluated. Mean treatment duration was 31.8 days (standard deviation ±18.3). There was no significant relationship between observer shift hour and high scores (> 8) (p = 0.83). Highest scores occurred in the afternoon, decreased at night (p = 0.03), and throughout admission (p < 0.0001). Weekend and weekday scores were similar (p = 0.4). The objective component of the scores remained similar throughout the day (p = 0.91) and week (p = 0.52). Conclusion Finnegan scores given by nurses were not influenced by shift hour. Time of day did not influence overall high scores or the proportion of objective to total Finnegan score. Inter-rater reliability was maintained regardless of time of day or day of the week.

Opioids as a Treatment Option for MS Patients with Chronic Pain

2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony H. Guarino ◽  
Martha Cornell
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Treatment Option ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Drug Category ◽  
Pain Syndromes ◽  
Long Term Therapy ◽  
Addictive Potential

Neuropathic and nociceptive pain are commonly observed in patients with MS. Among the analgesic options available for treating pain in MS, opioids may be too often avoided because of concerns about prescribing restrictions and addictive potential. However, when these fears are misplaced, they deny the patient of a powerful and potentially effective pain reduction option. Proper screening and management can help select appropriate patients for opioid therapy and maintain patients on long-term therapy while monitoring for signs of behaviors such as addiction or diversion. One such method involves entering into a “contract” with the patient with guidelines for renewing prescriptions. Although the literature contains few studies on opioids specific to MS patients, a number of studies support the use of this drug category in patients experiencing neuropathic pain syndromes.

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