FDA will Evaluate Information on Cough and Cold Medicine for Children having Codeine

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration posted on its website that the agency will go through cough and cold medicines for children that contain codeine. In fact, they will even consult an advisory committee to discuss safety issues.

As per a recent study, the drug is prescribed to around 870,000 children in the US every year. The drug helps calm down cough or sinus infection, but it can also cause breathing difficulties. The announcement has come after the European Medicines Agency stated that such medications should be given to children under 12 years for the treatment of cough and cold.

The FDA said it will consult experts and will form an advisory council to discuss safety issues linked with giving codeine to children. “Parents and caregivers who notice any signs of slow or shallow breathing, difficult or noisy breathing, confusion, or unusual sleepiness in their child should stop giving their child codeine and seek medical attention immediately”.

Experts affirmed that codeine affects the way brain processes pain. Once the drug is taken, the body converts the drug into opioid morphine. It shall, however, be noted that people’s bodies convert codeine at different speeds. Therefore, chance of overdose is high as either the drug can be converted too quickly or it could take more time.

In 2013 also, the FDA warned not to give codeine to children after surgeries to remove tonsils or adenoids.