I feel like this should have been a no-brainer for far longer than the last week and a half but hey, progress…
The American Academy of Pediatrics has FINALLY said that codeine isn’t safe for children and shouldn’t be used to ease pain or relieve coughs (there is little proof of its effectiveness in kids’ coughs and “mounting evidence” suggesting that for some kids it might not even work as a pain reliever). Despite evidence of its danger, doctors have prescribed codeine for decades and it’s still available over-the-counter in 28 states and the District of Columbia.
From the article:
“We firmly believe that there is never a reason to use codeine,” said the lead author of the statement, Dr. Joseph Tobias of Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, in email to Reuters Health.”
For MORE THAN A DECADE, codeine has been linked to life-threating or fatal respiratory problems in children, which often developed after kids had tonsil or adenoid surgery, due to combinations of acetaminophen and codeine after surgery.
There is also the possibility of problems in kids with undiagnosed nighttime breathing problems (obesity may increase this risk). Regardless, it’s just not worth it.
More from the article:
“The FDA ordered a “black box” warning – its strongest – on codeine in 2013 cautioning doctors not to give the drug to kids having surgery to remove their adenoids or tonsils.
This statement is meant to ensure that all pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists (including dentists) are aware of the concerns with codeine and recognize that, for the safety of their patients, they should switch to another oral opioid.”
Bottom line, codeine is not safe to give to kids.
Source: Scientific American
