Codeine and Tramadol can cause breathing problems in children

Codeine and tramadol are opioid medicines used to relieve pain and treat coughs and colds. However, the drug can also cause life-threatening breathing problems in children.

1. What is Codeine and Tramadol?

Codeine is used to relieve mild to moderate pain, acute diarrhea and to treat cough. Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to severe pain when paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not work.

2. Codeine or tramadol causes breathing problems in children

Codeine or tramadol should not be used by a nursing mother because the medicine can pass to the baby through breast milk causing drowsiness, difficulty feeding or serious breathing problems.
FDA warns that children under 12 years of age should not take codeine or tramadol products for pain relief. Children under 18 years of age should not take tramadol to treat pain after tonsillectomy or VA.
Teens 12 to 18 years old with obesity, sleep apnea, or a weakened respiratory system should not take codeine or tramadol because it can increase the risk of serious breathing problems. Accordingly, the drug tramadol is used only for adults and by prescription for pain relief. In some cases, codeine can be used in combination with acetaminophen in prescription pain relievers and with other cold medicines to treat coughs.
MORE: Tramadol HCL ER: Uses, indications and notes when using

Giữ thuốc ngoài tầm với của trẻ — Trẻ em dưới 12 tuổi thuộc nhóm đối tượng không nên dùng các sản phẩm codeine hoặc tramadol

3. How do I know if my child's medicine contains codeine or tramadol?

Parents need to pay attention to read the drug label to know if the medicine contains codeine or tramadol before buying it for their child. If the medicine contains codeine or tramadol, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist to decide whether to give the medicine to your child.

4. Can codeine and tramadol be substituted with another drug for children?

For children who need to use pain relievers, the family should take the child to the doctor for advice on the appropriate medication. The FDA recommends that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under 2 years of age. Even for older children, as the cough is usually mild, it usually clears up in a few days without the use of any medicine.
For FDA-approved over-the-counter cough and pain relievers for children under 12 years of age, families should use caution when purchasing them. Especially for children with obesity, sleep apnea, gene mutations, families need to pay attention to read the instructions for use and watch for abnormal signs after using the drug such as slow breathing, shallow breathing, sleeping. much, confused. If abnormality is detected, the family should stop giving the child the medicine and take the child to the nearest medical facility for examination and treatment.

Khám nhi — Cha mẹ nên đưa con tới gặp bác sĩ để được thăm khám và kê đơn điều trị phù hợp

5. Other side effects of codeine and tramadol

In addition to causing breathing problems in children, Codeine and tramadol when used can cause other side effects such as:
Rash Nausea, vomiting Convulsions Confusion Agitation Hallucinations Shallow breathing, Weak heart rate, fainting If any abnormal signs are detected after using the drug, the family should take the child to the nearest medical facility for timely treatment.
With many years of experience in examining and treating diseases in children, now the Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital has become one of the major health care centers, capable of examining , screening and treatment of many diseases in depth. Therefore, if the child shows signs of illness, parents can take the child to Vinmec International General Hospital to be examined and prescribed by a specialist doctor.

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Reference source: fda.gov

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