What medications are most commonly used for treating NOWS?

The most common medications used for treating Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) are morphine and methadone. Morphine is often the first-line agent used due to its established efficacy and safety profile in neonates. It helps to manage withdrawal symptoms effectively by providing a stable level of opioids, which can minimize the severity of withdrawal. Methadone can also be utilized, particularly in cases where morphine is insufficient or in the management of withdrawal in babies born to mothers on methadone maintenance therapy.

While buprenorphine is recognized as an alternative treatment for adult opioid use disorder, it is less commonly used for neonates due to insufficient data on its safety and effectiveness in this population. Hydromorphone and codeine have limited use and are not as well-studied or favored for treating NOWS. Other options like oxycodone are not typically used in the standard treatment protocols for managing withdrawal in newborns.

Thus, the combination of morphine and methadone aligns with current guidelines and clinical practices for addressing NOWS, making it the correct choice for this question.