Effect of oral naloxone hydrochloride on gastrointestinal transit in premature infants treated with morphine.

Background: Opioids are common drugs for pain treatment in preterm newborn infants, in spite of several adverse effects. Constipation is a frequent problem when opioids are used in both adults and neonates. Although several studies indicate that the oral administration of naloxone hydrochloride (NH) improves intestinal motility during opioid therapy, there is still a lack of evidence in newborns.