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Doctor

Recommendations made
pediatrician - Dr. Victоr Аbdоw
Rоckville, МD, USА.


woomen

Is it allowed to take Codeine during lactation?
Is it safe for a nursing mother and a child?

Compound of cough and pain medication. The cytochrome P450-CYP2D6 enzyme catalyzes morphine. It is excreted in breast milk in small amounts, much lower than the dose used for newborns and infants. The plasma levels of infants whose mothers take them are very low, less than usual therapeutic levels and assuming an insignificant relative dose, less than 1.5% (Meny 1993, Naumburg 1988, Findlay 1981), so it was considered safe for use during breastfeeding (Bar-Oz 2003, WHO 2002, AAP 2001, Moretti 2000, Spigset 2000, Mitchell 1999, Meny 1993). However, excessive sedation in the mother or infant may occur if they are rapid metabolizers of codeine to morphine due to an excess of the gene linked to the P450-2D6 enzyme: this occurs in <1% of Chinese, Japanese and Hispanic people; 3% African Americans; 1-10% of Caucasians and 16-29% of North Africans, Ethiopians and Saudis (Halder 2015, Sachs 2013). The genetic diagnosis of this characteristic is not available in usual clinical practice (Madadi, 2011). Codeine through breast milk has been linked to the appearance of neonatal apnea (Naumburg, 1988), drowsiness (Ito, 1993), neurological depression (Madadi, 2008) and, above all, a fatal outcome: a newborn whose mother had this genetic abnormality died at 13 days; the mother was taking 60 mg of codeine twice daily, morphine levels were normal in breast milk, but very high in the child's plasma (Madadi 2007, Koren 2006). Subsequently, the causality of codeine in this case has been called into question (Bateman 2008, Ferner RE 2008, Young 2007). A link has been found between the use of codeine during pregnancy and breastfeeding and the risk of developing neuroblastoma in the infant (Cook, 2004). Because of all this, and with newborns having a limited capacity for opioid elimination (Willmann, 2009) and the existence of more effective alternatives, many authors and institutions advocate completely discouraging its use in infants and breastfeeding mothers (FDA 2017, Al-Adhami 2016, Lazaryan 2015, AEMPS 2015, Sachs 2013, EMA 2013). Other authors advocate cautious use (some even in the case of rapid metabolizers), using the lowest possible effective dose and for no more than 4 days and monitoring for signs of sedation in mother and infant (Royal Berkshire-NHS 2016, Halder 2015, Reece-Stremtan-ABM Protocol#21 2015, Chow 2015, Kelly 2013, UKMi NHS 2013, Rowe 2013, Montgomery-ABM protocol#15 2012, Amir 2011, Madadi 2009, Madadi 2007, FDA 2007). The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) better controls pain and with fewer side effects than codeine alone or in combination with paracetamol (Palanisamy 2014, Hendrickson 2012, van den Anker 2012, Madadi 2009, Nauta 2009, Willmann 2009), and codeine is not included either in international consensus on the treatment of migraines (Bordini 2016, Worthington 2013). Follow WHO standards for childbirth attendance, reduce cesarean sections and episiotomies, and therefore the need for analgesics in the first few days.

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woomen

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Types of risk

VERY LOW RISK
It is allowed while breastfeeding. It is not dangerous for a baby. It is moderately safe. more...

LOW RISK PROBABLE
Possible presence in breast milk is allowed. Follow the doctor's recommendation. more...

HIGH RISK PROBABLE
An unsafe drug, it is necessary to assess the risks while taking. Use safer analogs. more...

VERY HIGH RISK
It is not recommended. You need to stop breastfeeding or choose a safe analog. more...

Scientific literature

The level of risk for breastfeeding is confirmed in these scientific publications:
  1. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM553814.pdf
  2. https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/15-analgesia-and-anesthesia-protocol-english.pdf
  3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27050859
  4. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/anp/v74n3/0004-282X-anp-74-03-0262.pdf
  5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27540198
  6. http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets/Maternity/Maternity---codeine-and-breastfeeding.htm
  7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25578245
  8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25836677
  9. https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/21-drug-dependency-protocol-english.pdf
  10. https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/21-drug-dependency-protocol-spanish.pdf
  11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25809057
  12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25927109
  13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369625/pdf/0610241.pdf
  14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24796391
  15. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anae.12716/epdf
  16. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23968886
  17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23922910
  18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3726489/pdf/pone.0070073.pdf
  19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23979084
  20. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/132/3/e796.full.pdf
  21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23178070
  22. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/codeine-and-breastfeeding-is-it-safe-and-what-are-the-alternatives/
  23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21996159
  24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22148986
  25. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/15563650.2011.635147?needAccess=true
  26. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21241245
  27. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21894275
  28. http://www.racgp.org.au/download/documents/AFP/2011/September/201109amir.pdf
  29. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19628064
  30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18719619
  31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19710640
  32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19910591
  33. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18998750
  34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18722850
  35. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18722857
  36. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18781855
  37. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17872605
  38. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17872775
  39. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1949207/pdf/0531005.pdf
  40. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16920476
  41. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15051581
  42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14583068
  43. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/55732.pdf
  44. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11533352
  45. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/108/3/776.full.pdf
  46. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10937472
  47. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11013791
  48. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2145042/pdf/canfamphys00031-0055.pdf
  49. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10776186
  50. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8498418
  51. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8260056
  52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3341293
  53. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7214793

Comments  

+3 #3 Reviewer: 75 or over Male on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient) 2018-12-19 06:54
dry mouth
+3 #2 Reviewer: liluger2, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient) 2018-10-30 06:07
I had a horrible cough and this was prescribed as a last resort and it finally stopped.
+3 #1 Reviewer: MedReviewer, 35-44 Female on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient) 2017-04-26 06:53
Itchy lungs and coughing were why I sought treatment. I managed to get to sleep and the itchiness is greatly reduced, but after only one dose, I woke with a sore throat and a lot of phlegm (which is now causing me to cough). Pamphlet states to call Doctor if a sore throat is encountered.

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