CHICAGO — The American Academy of Pediatrics has strengthened its warnings about prescribing codeine for children because of reports of deaths and risks for dangerous side effects including breathing problems. The academy’s advice, published in a report Monday in its medical journal, Pediatrics , mirrors warnings from the Food and Drug Administration about using codeine for kids’ coughs or pain. A different genetic variation makes the drug ineffective for pain relief in as many as a third of patients. THE RISKSCodeine has often been prescribed for pain relief after tonsillectomies but the FDA has advised against this use. The new report is more comprehensive, addingconcerns about using codeine for pain along with information on deaths.

Source: National Post September 19, 2016 16:30 UTC