The content of codeine in cough medicine for children that parents should be aware of

There are many choices of cough medicine for children, but have you ever read the ingredients of these drugs before buying them? Of course, cough medicine for children is different from adults, so you also have to be observant and smart in choosing it. We recommend that you first ask the doctor which type of cough medicine is suitable for your little one. The reason is, there is a content of cough medicine for children that parents should be aware of, namely codeine.

Be aware of the codeine in your child's cough medicine

Codeine or codeine is an opiate compound (a product derived from opium) which has properties to reduce pain (analgesic) and relieve cough (antitussive). The codeine content in this cough medicine works by affecting the central nervous system, so you don't feel pain and the cough is reduced.

Codeine is one of the ingredients that can treat mild to moderate pain. Because codeine is included in a type of opium, aka narcotics, its content in children's cough medicine still triggers pros and cons.

In Indonesia, codeine was initially approved as an analgesic and antitussive for adults and children. However, in March 2016, the POM issued a new contraindication warning, namely that the codeine content in cough medicine can increase the risk of respiratory problems.

Controversy over codeine in children's cough medicine

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer recommends using codeine in children because it can cause the child to have difficulty breathing, even death.

The AAP says that the risk of codeine occurs because the content is too active to suppress the respiratory system. So, codeine that is too active can suppress the cough reflex, so that the child's breathing is disturbed.

Meanwhile, in July 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration, or the equivalent of the POM in Indonesia, said the same thing, that the codeine content in children's cough medicine can cause respiratory problems and prohibit its use for children under 12 years.

Therefore, to prevent this risk from occurring, the Indonesian POM also issued several warnings on who can and should not use cough medicine with codeine in it. Cough medicines containing codeine should not be used by:

Children under 12 years
Breastfeeding mothers
Pregnant women at term (maternal gestational age between 38-42 weeks)
Patients with acute or chronic respiratory problems, without resuscitation equipment
Patients aged 12-18 years (adolescents) for analgesic indications

Not only cough medicine, codeine is also in pain relievers

This provision also applies to pain relievers. If there is codeine in painkillers, then children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers will not continue to take it.

A study published in the journal Pediatric, reports that there have been 2 fatal cases of codeine use in painkillers. Therefore,

In June 2013, the European Medicines Evaluation Agency, aka BPOM in Europe, formulated several things related to the use of codeine in painkillers for children, namely:

It should only be given to children over 12 years of age who are experiencing moderate and acute illness.
May be given if other pain relievers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol do not work
Should not be given to children under 18 years who experience itsleep apnea, because it can cause respiratory problems that are more severe.

Read the contents of the child's cough medicine

Because there are still cough medicines in Indonesia that contain codeine, you as a parent should be smart about choosing it. It is better if, first read and understand what is the content of a child's cough medicine before buying it.

Don't forget to consult your pediatrician, whether the stone medicine is suitable for your little one's condition. The codeine content in children's cough medicine may be dangerous, but again check with your pediatrician.