Infant withdrawal

[moonie218]

I am a pediatric home care nurse and I have a new client.  A one year old that we are starting to wean off of methadone.  What signs and symptoms of withdrawal should I be looking for?

[Ncfam06]

I know this thread is old but wanted to give some info. My 11 month old daughter was placed on methadone after being extubated and removed from a ventilator. She was given drugs to sedate her and for pain during intubation and needed methadone to wean her off the meds. Then the methadone was tappered over a period of 5 days. Many people don't realize this is common for children who have been on ventilators, usually more then 5 days. She still had awful withdrawal the first 24 hours even on methadone. And some mild withdrawal after the methadone tapper had ended.  Irritable, shakey, low grade fever and lethargy.  

[sandra5353]

wow. I teared up when I first read her question. All I thought about since getting off my meds the past 2 weeks was how do little babies do it and young children of cancer who are now healed? And then I read her question and it made me cry. I prayed for this wee one all day. I hope if it's true, that GOD will help the baby and help fast.xo

[ImDONENoMore]

Actually if you look at her profile you'll see this member also claims to be a novelist.  Maybe she's looking for information for a book she's writing?  Because otherwise coming here for help if you're already a pediatric nuse is a frightening thought.

[littlebit010101]

It's on Vicki I'm famous for saying stuff and then thinking wow why did I say that at least we recognize it...

[vicki595]

I'd like to delete that last comment...

[vicki595]

HAHAHA!   An early bloomer?

[ricart70]

I guess they start younger and younger all the time

[vicki595]

I know!!  

She's got some 'splainin' to do!!

[littlebit010101]

I was actually so focused on her a pediactic nurse asking us that I totally missed the infant was one year old...

[littlebit010101]

I know right...I thought the same thing Sandra...I mean why ask us???... Something ain't right...really hope we get an explanation...

[sandra5353]

I was wondering why a pediatric nurse had to even ask? What's going on here??

[atthebeach]

pediatric nurse???

[dominosarah]

This doesnt make any sense to me.  Why is a 1 yr old addicted to methadone?

[vicki595]

Maybe she meant: One DAY old but even then...the infant shouldn't be at home and tapering from Methadone. This nurse should know that and not even try!

[steedo]

Woops, I ment surely not for pain

[Ashelen]

I noticed that right away too vicki....this has me really concerned. Weaning a baby off of drugs immediately after birth is difficult enough but most of what they do is sleep...a 1-year-old? Heavens.

[steedo]

I was wondering the same thing as Vicki. A 1 day old baby would make sense but why would a baby 1 year old be on methadone. Surley not for pain. I know, quit calling me Shirley

[littlebit010101]

Vicki I did not even notice that it was a one year old...now I'm very curious..

[vicki595]

...You're caring for a ONE year old addicted to Methadone? Can you explain this??

[sandra5353]

My heart and prayers for this wee one. xoxo

[Bkitty]

Oh and they can also become very diaphoretic.

[Bkitty]

Hi and Welcome! Babies that go thru withdrawal can experience,,loose stools,,lack of sleep,,fussiness,,tremors,,and they can be hard to console,,sneezing episodes and feeding problems. There are medications that the pediatrician can order to help ease the withdrawal symptoms,,I think phenobarbitol is used. Hope this helps some,,,the symptoms can peak within 12 hours after the last dose. For babies a taper may be effective to help ease those w/d symptoms. ~Bkitty