Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Avoid codeine after tonsillectomy surgery

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Earlier this year the FDA issued a warning and changed the label on pain medications that contain codeine because of unpredictable serious adverse effects including death in children.

Codeine is metabolized into morphine and some children are genetically predisposed to be "ultra-rapid  metabolizers". Some of these children have had fatal or life-threatening morphine overdoses after taking typically safe codeine doses for post-op pain management after tonsillectomy. 
The most common codeine-containing medication is acetaminophen with codeine (aka Tylenol #3). 
The FDA now "strongly recommends" against codeine use in post-op tonsillectomy pain management. 

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm315497.htm

1 comment:

  1. Dr. Clarke,

    I am so sad to hear you will be leaving Bluefish. You have been a great blessing to our family, and J always looks forward to coming to see you. Selfishly we are devastated, but we are prayerful this move would be a great blessing for you and your family. I am so glad to have found your blog to keep up on current research and your thoughts on the latest medical info for our kids.

    -The Brymers

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