title: [Withdrawal in newborns after exposure to psychotropic medications during pregnancy].
abstract: The use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy causes withdrawal symptoms in 20-30% of the newborns. The literature on withdrawal symptoms is not unanimous concerning their recognition and treatment. A search of PubMed and Embase revealed 198 articles in which potential withdrawal symptoms in newborns were described following exposure to psychotropic medications during pregnancy. Commonly occurring withdrawal symptoms are mostly mild, including restlessness and sleeping and feeding difficulties. Severe symptoms such as convulsions are rare. It can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between symptoms of intoxication and symptoms of withdrawal. The Finnegan scale is widely used to recognise withdrawal from psychotropic medication. An observation period of at least 48 h post-partum is advised. Recognition of withdrawal is important to prevent needless additional tests. In withdrawal symptoms supportive measures such as feeding on demand and swaddling are usually sufficient. If withdrawal symptoms are severe, phenobarbital is a therapeutic option.
authors.affiliation: Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis, Psychiatrie Obstetrie Pediatrie expertisecentrum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. n.kieviet@slaz.nl
authors.forename: Noera
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kieviet
authors.forename: Koert
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dolman
authors.forename: Hanneke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wennink
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heres
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honig
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D010634:Phenobarbital