NOWS
Medical abbreviation · Pediatric & Neonatal
| Stands for | Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
NOWS stands for Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, a pediatric & neonatal abbreviation.
Term for withdrawal in newborns specifically after prenatal opioid exposure, a subset of neonatal abstinence syndrome. Onset depends on the opioid: within a day for short-acting drugs and up to several days for methadone or buprenorphine.
Example: NOWS monitoring for 5 days given maternal buprenorphine; feeding well, sleeping between feeds.
Usage notes
Many clinicians prefer NOWS because nearly all cases involve opioids and the term avoids the stigma of "abstinence". Treatment with medication for the mother during pregnancy is recommended despite the risk of NOWS because it improves outcomes for both. Breastfeeding is encouraged for mothers stable on treatment.
Related abbreviations
More pediatric & neonatal abbreviations
- MMR – Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine
- MMRV – Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine
- MSUD – Maple syrup urine disease
- NAS – Neonatal abstinence syndrome
- NBS – Newborn screening
- NEC – Necrotizing enterocolitis
- OFC – Occipitofrontal circumference
- PCV – Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
- PKU – Phenylketonuria
- PPHN – Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
- PVL – Periventricular leukomalacia
- ROP – Retinopathy of prematurity
See all 51 pediatric & neonatal abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.