Pharmacological approaches to the management of pain in the neonatal intensive care unit

Effective and consistent management of neonatal pain remains a controversial issue. Premature infants are repeatedly subjected to painful tests and procedures or suffer painful conditions when they are most vulnerable. With different mechanisms transducing various types of pain the practice of 'one drug fits all' becomes questionable. Clinicians must use the latest non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies for effective management of neonatal pain, distress, or agitation. Pharmacologic strategies for dealing with neonatal pain in the neonatal intensive care unit are described. Opioid therapy, once considered the mainstay for neonatal analgesia, may not be as effective as previously thought. Morphine infusions do not alter the neurological outcomes of preterm neonates and may not be effective against acute pain. Alternative approaches with methadone, ketamine, or local anesthetics should be considered. Clinicians must understand the contextual circumstances underlying pain in individual neonates and tailor therapy accordingly, using the most current evidence related to neonatal pain assessment and management.