Abstract
Iatrogenic withdrawal syndromes develop in children exposed to prolonged sedative and analgesic medications. Signs of withdrawal include central nervous system irritability, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and autonomic dysfunction. The most important steps to the safe management of sedative and analgesic weaning in children are the early identification of the risk of withdrawal, use of a validated withdrawal assessment scale, use of nonpharmacologic interventions, and administration of medication for weaning, if indicated. This article reviews the physiologic mechanisms of opioid tolerance and withdrawal, validated pediatric withdrawal scales, and safe management of iatrogenic withdrawal syndromes. Figures illustrate cellular responses to acute and chronic exposure to opioids. A suggested algorithm for the safe and rapid weaning of sedative and analgesic medications, using the best available evidence, is discussed. Key words: analgesic weaning, opioid tolerance, pediatric withdrawal, sedation weaning, weaning algorithm for children
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
