Effects of Prenatal Methamphetamine Exposure on Fetal Growth and Drug Withdrawal Symptoms in Infants Born at Term

Abstract

To determine fetal growth and the incidence of withdrawal symptoms in term infants exposed to methamphetamine in utero, we retrospectively identified neonates whose mothers used methamphetamine during pregnancy and matched them to unexposed newborns. Exclusion criteria included multiple and preterm gestations. Although there were no differences in infant growth parameters between the methamphetamine-exposed and methamphetamine-unexposed neonates, methamphetamine exposure throughout gestation was associated with decreased growth relative to infants exposed only for the first two trimesters. In addition, there were significantly more small for gestational age infants in the methamphetamine group compared with the unexposed group. Methamphetamine-exposed infants whose mothers smoked had significantly decreased growth relative to infants exposed to methamphetamine alone. Withdrawal symptoms (as determined by a previously reported scoring system) requiring pharmacologic intervention were observed in 4% of methamphetamine-exposed infants. These preliminary findings indicate that methamphetamine use is associated with growth restriction in infants born at term.

Addiction in Pregnancy

“…Mild neonatal withdrawal has been described, including jitteriness, drowsiness, and respiratory distress. 19,49,50 Maternal methamphetamine use may have long-term detrimental effects on exposed fetuses, and exposure may result in future learning and memory impairments.…”

Children exposed to methamphetamine use and manufacture

“…However, some studies have assessed the effects of methamphetamine-exposed infants compared with non-methamphetamine exposed infants in utero. Findings indicate that prenatal exposure to methamphetamine is associated with an increase in premature delivery, complications during pregnancy, altered neonatal behavioral patterns (e.g., abnormal reflexes and extreme irritability), low birth weight, and smaller head circumference (Eriksson, Larsson, & Zetterstrom, 1981;Hohman et al, 2004;Lester et al, 2006;Oro & Dixon, 1987;Smith et al, 2003). Oro and Dixon (1987) further reported that neonates exposed to methamphetamine demonstrated neurologic and physiologic abnormalities such as disruptive sleep patterns, state disorganization, poor feeding, and tremors.…”

Stimulant Methamphetamine and Dextromethorphan Use Among Thai Adolescents: Implications for Health of Women and Children

“…Infants that have been exposed to concurrent cigarette smoke as well as methamphetamine in utero are more likely to have intrauterine growth restriction. Other long-term consequences are neurobehavioral and include increased aggressive behavior, delayed acquisition of mathematics and language skills, and poorer visual recognition memory [10,11].…”

“…The incidence can vary from as low as 2 % to as high as 49 % in some studies. However, unlike its cocaine counterpart, methamphetamine withdrawal in neonates rarely necessitates pharmacologic intervention [8,11,12].…”