Codeine Dangers In Nursing Mothers

[bestsynd]

(Best Syndication) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned nursing mothers of the dangers of codeine Friday. The watchdog agency says that codeine increases the risk of morphine overdose in their children if the mothers are ultra-rapid metabolizers of codeine. The codeine basically turns into morphine in the mothers body.

The FDA reports the death of a 13-day old breastfed infant who died from morphine overdose. Even a small dose of codeine can cause morphine levels in the mother's milk to become abnormally high. Although nursing mothers have used codeine for years, and it is generally considered safe, the FDA wanted to “raise awareness of this possible health risk and to prevent morphine overdose in nursing infants.”

Dangers of Codeine in Nursing Mothers