Finding the best medicine for newborns with opioid withdrawal
UAB Clinical Site HEAL Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Pharmacological Treatments
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · NIH-11168898
Comparing different medications to find which helps newborns with opioid withdrawal recover faster and do better early in life.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11168898 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If your baby was exposed to opioids before birth and develops withdrawal after delivery, this trial enrolls newborns at the UAB neonatal center and randomly gives one of several standard medications. Doctors and nurses will track withdrawal symptoms, how long the baby needs hospital care, and growth and development over time. The UAB site is part of a larger multi-center randomized trial and has experience following babies out to two years with trained examiners. Families who join will be asked for consent for treatment randomization and follow-up visits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborns with confirmed prenatal opioid exposure who develop neonatal opioid withdrawal and whose parents or guardians agree to randomization and follow-up are eligible.
Not a fit: Babies without prenatal opioid exposure, or whose families do not consent to participate, would not be included and would not directly benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify a safer, more effective medication that shortens hospital stays and improves early developmental outcomes for infants with NOWS.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials and observational studies have tested drugs like morphine, methadone, and buprenorphine with mixed results, so this head-to-head multi-center randomized approach is relatively new and needed.
Where this research is happening
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM — BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: AMBALAVANAN, NAMASIVAYAM — UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- Study coordinator: AMBALAVANAN, NAMASIVAYAM
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.