1 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 1 8
I
f you're pre-
scribing codeine
to children after
tonsil and adenoid
surgery, stop. Some
facilities apparently
still are, despite the
FDA's 2013 black
box warning that
prescribing the opi-
oid to kids could be
fatal. A study in
Pediatrics
(osmag.net/Vg9sWV) last year showed that as many as 1 in 20 chil-
dren were still receiving codeine. Some children rapidly convert
codeine to morphine, resulting in a risk of overdose. Other children
poorly metabolize codeine to morphine, resulting in no improvement
in pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) or hydrocodone
(Vicodin) all control pain well.
Sheldon S, Sones, RPh, FASCP
Safe Medication Management for Ambulatory Service Facilities
Newington, Conn.
shelsones@aol.com
PEDIATRIC PAIN MANAGEMENT
Reminder: Codeine Could Be Fatal to Children
Ideas Work
P r a c t i c a l p e a r l s f r o m y o u r c o l l e a g u e s
That
• Codeine is prohibited for children following tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies.
