Role of Clonidine in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Abstract

To provide a systematic review of the current role of clonidine in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). A MEDLINE literature search inclusive of the dates 1946 to November 2015 was performed using the search terms clonidine and abstinence syndromes, neonatal. Excerpta Medica was searched from 1980 to November 2015 using the search terms clonidine and newborn. Additionally, Web of Science was searched using the terms clonidine and neon* inclusive of 1945 to November 2015. We utilized the PRISMA guidelines to select English language, human primary literature, review articles, and supporting data assessing the efficacy of clonidine in the treatment of NAS. Three clinical trials and 5 observational studies demonstrated evidence of clonidine's effectiveness in NAS. Clonidine's therapeutic use as monotherapy and in combination with other agents was shown to reduce the time needed for pharmacotherapy treatment. Adverse reactions associated with clonidine in neonates, when reported, are mild. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends opioids as first-line agents in the treatment of NAS when pharmacological treatment is indicated. Limited data suggest that clonidine, in combination with other agents or as monotherapy, may be as effective, with minimal adverse effects and reduced treatment time. Prospective clinical trials are necessary to clarify the ultimate role of clonidine in NAS and establish long-term safety.