The Use of Methadone in Newborn Infants (Methadone)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01327079 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : April 1, 2011
Last Update Posted : July 26, 2018
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Premature Birth of Newborn Critically Ill | Drug: Methadone | Phase 1 Phase 2 |
The investigators will identify and recruit from the NICU of CNMC 60 preterm neonates uniformly distributed with respect to gestational age and encompassing GA's of from 22 to less than 43 weeks.
- Stratified Selection by Gestational Age (GA): The study neonates will be selected to achieve balance in the following GA strata: (22-24 wks, 25-26 wks, 27-28 wks, 29-30 wks, 31-32 wks, 33-37 wks; 38-43 wks). Stratification will be done to ensure broad representation by GA. As described below, analyses will treat GA as a continuous variable.
- Randomization will assign a newborn infant to group 1 (n=30) or group 2 (n=30).
- Study medications: Methadone and inulin administration Blood and urine will be collected for the purposes of this research project. Blood will be drawn from the indwelling arterial catheter that already is in place for clinical purposes. The amount of blood obtained for all study related determinations will be minimized and kept at less than 3 mL/kg of blood per 48 hour period. The study will last 60 hours for group 1 and 72 hours for group.
- DNA study 0.3ml whole blood will be collected from each subject
- PK study Blood samples (0.2 mL per sample) will be taken in 30 newborn infants at t=0, 1, 4, 12, 36, 60 h (group 1) after the administration of one dose of methadone, and in 30 newborn infants at t=0, 2, 8, 24, 48, 72 hr (group 2) after the administration of methadone. A total of 1.5 ml of blood will be collected from each subject
- Urine Collection Urine samples will be collected from each infant's diaper (wood pulp based study diapers) every 3-4 hours over the first 24 hour period or alternatively, from an indwelling urinary catheter placed based on clinical indications unrelated to the study protocol.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 60 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Basic Science |
Official Title: | Optimizing the Use of Methadone in Newborn Infants |
Study Start Date : | December 2010 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2017 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2017 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Group 1
Gestational age less than 29 weeks We will substitute for one study dose 0.1 mg morphine with 0.1 mg methadone, whereas if the infant has been treated with fentanyl substitute for that one study dose 1 μg fentanyl with 0.1 mg methadone. Administration of inulin: Inulin will be administered as a glucose 10%-inulin solution containing 25 gr. inulin/L, at an infusion rate of 0.6 mL/kg/h. After 24 h, the inulin clearance will be calculated. |
Drug: Methadone
If the infant has been treated with morphine than substitute for that one study dose 0.1 mg morphine with 0.1 mg methadone, whereas if the infant has been treated with fentanyl substitute for that one study dose 1 μg fentanyl with 0.1 mg methadone. Administration of inulin: Inulin will be administered as a glucose 10%-inulin solution containing 25 gr. inulin/L, at an infusion rate of 0.6 mL/kg/h. After 24 h, the inulin clearance will be calculated. Other Name: inulin Drug: Methadone If the infant has been treated with morphine than substitute for that one study dose 0.1 mg morphine with 0.1 mg methadone, whereas if the infant has been treated with fentanyl substitute for that one study dose 1 μg fentanyl with 0.1 mg methadone. Administration of inulin: Inulin will be administered as a glucose 10%-inulin solution containing 25 gr. inulin/L, at an infusion rate of 0.6 mL/kg/h. After 24 h, the inulin clearance will be calculated. Other Name: inulin (Sinistrin) |
Experimental: Group 2
Gestational age greater then 29 weeks We will substitute for that one study dose 0.1 mg morphine with 0.1 mg methadone, whereas if the infant has been treated with fentanyl substitute for that one study dose 1 μg fentanyl with 0.1 mg methadone. Administration of inulin: Inulin will be administered as a glucose 10%-inulin solution containing 25 gr. inulin/L, at an infusion rate of 0.6 mL/kg/h. After 24 h, the inulin clearance will be calculated. |
Drug: Methadone
If the infant has been treated with morphine than substitute for that one study dose 0.1 mg morphine with 0.1 mg methadone, whereas if the infant has been treated with fentanyl substitute for that one study dose 1 μg fentanyl with 0.1 mg methadone. Administration of inulin: Inulin will be administered as a glucose 10%-inulin solution containing 25 gr. inulin/L, at an infusion rate of 0.6 mL/kg/h. After 24 h, the inulin clearance will be calculated. Other Name: inulin (Sinistrin) |
- Methadone PK and EDDP [ Time Frame: 36 months ]Primary outcome: Plasma and urine levels of methadone and EDDP (2-ethylidene- 1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine, the main metabolite of methadone). Secondary endpoints: CYP2DB6 genetic variability.
- DNA [ Time Frame: 36 months ]Secondary endpoints: CYP2DB6 genetic variability.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 22 Weeks to 43 Weeks (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Newborn infants of both genders and all races who have:
- a postnatal age of less than 3 months
- an indwelling (peripheral or umbilical) arterial line, and
- already treated with an opioid (morphine or fentanyl) for clinical reasons
Exclusion Criteria:
- Neonates with severe asphyxia grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage,
- Neonates with major congenital malformations or facial malformations (e.g., cleft lip and palate), neurological disorders
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Neonates receiving continuous or intermittent neuromuscular blockers neonates will be excluded who have:
- clinical or biochemical evidence of hepatic and renal failure (including systemic hypoperfusion
- received drugs that are CYP2B6 substrates
- been exposed in utero to methadone, despite the fact that they indeed receive a CYP2B6 substrate through their mother, will not be excluded but will be analyzed as a subgroup

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01327079
United States, District of Columbia | |
Childrens Research Institute | |
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20010 | |
Childrens's Research Institute | |
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20010 |
Responsible Party: | John van den Anker, John van denanker, MD, PhD, Children's National Research Institute |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01327079 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
4781 IV Methadone ( Other Grant/Funding Number: KDA027992A ) |
First Posted: | April 1, 2011 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | July 26, 2018 |
Last Verified: | July 2018 |
NICU Methadone neonates |
Premature Birth Critical Illness Disease Attributes Pathologic Processes Obstetric Labor, Premature Obstetric Labor Complications Pregnancy Complications Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Urogenital Diseases Methadone |
Analgesics, Opioid Narcotics Central Nervous System Depressants Physiological Effects of Drugs Analgesics Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Antitussive Agents Respiratory System Agents |