Finding the Best Medicine for Newborns with Opioid Withdrawal
Neonatal Treatment Trial
This project compares three commonly used medicines to help newborn babies who are going through opioid withdrawal after birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168934 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my baby was exposed to opioids before birth and showed withdrawal symptoms, this effort would enroll them at birth and give one of three commonly used medicines according to a standardized plan. The work is happening at many hospitals in a CHOP/Penn neonatal trials network so outcomes can be compared across diverse settings. Doctors will track hospital stay length, readmissions, follow-up care, and other health measures to see which medicine leads to better short- and medium-term results. Families will be followed after discharge to capture recovery and use of recommended preventive services.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborn infants (about 0–4 weeks old) diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome who require pharmacologic treatment are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Babies not exposed to opioids, infants with only mild withdrawal managed without drugs, or families who do not enroll would not be eligible or likely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could help doctors choose safer, more effective medicines so newborns spend less time in the hospital and have fewer complications and follow-up problems.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller trials and observational studies have suggested some medications may shorten hospital stays, but large multicenter comparisons of the three commonly used drugs are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lorch, Scott a — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Lorch, Scott a
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.