Drug Withdrawal

Question 1

What is abstinence syndrome

Answer 1

Refers to withdrawal symptoms that happen in neonates of mothers which have used substances during pregnancy

Question 2

Substances which can cause abstinence syndrome

Answer 2

Opiates, methadone, benzos, cocaine, amphetamines, nicotine, cannabis, alcohol, SSRIs, antidepressants

Question 3

Drugs which cause withdrawal symptoms after 3-72 hours of birth

Answer 3

Opiates, SSRIs, alcohol

Question 4

Drugs which cause withdrawal symptoms between 1-21 days after birth

Answer 4

Methadone, other benzos

Question 5

CNS signs of abstinence syndrome

Answer 5

Irritability, increased tone, high pitched cry, not settling, tremors, seizures

Question 6

Vasomotor signs of abstinence syndrome

Answer 6

Yawning, sweating, unstable temperature and pyrexia

Question 7

Other signs of abstinence syndrome

Answer 7

Tachypnoea, hypoglycaemia, loose stools, poor feeding, regurg, vomiting

Question 8

Management of abstinence syndrome

Answer 8

Kept on monitoring on a NAS chart for at least 3 days.
Oral morphine sulfate for opiate withdrawal.
Oral phenobarbitone for non-opiate withdrawal.