Neonatal Gabapentin Withdrawal Syndrome

Reasons for maternal exposure to gabapentin during pregnancy:

(1) hyperemesis gravidarum

(2) restless legs syndrome

(3) neuropathic pain

(4) epilepsy

(5) bipolar disorder

Clinical features:

(1) history of maternal gabapentin exposure during the pregnancy

(2) clinical signs of withdrawal reaction

(3) exclusion of other explanations for the withdrawal reaction

(4) exclusion of medical explanations for the symptoms

(5) symptom relief after administration of gabapentin

Clinical features in the neonate may include:

(1) apnea

(2) hypoglycemia

(3) hypotonia

(4) poor respiratory effort

(5) hypoxemia

(6) impaired suck

(7) sneezing

(8) irritability

(9) loose stools

(10) jitteriness