A new study published in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics finds that codeine can hurt the health of infants.
According to researchers a genetic predisposition in some women causes them to metabolize codeine into morphine much faster than unusual, the result may be harm to the babies central nervous system.
“A large number of women receive codeine for obstetric pain while breastfeeding.” write reseachers. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends codeine as OK during breast-feeding. Researcher estimate that over 40 percent of all new mothers using codeine for post-delivery pain while breast-feeding.
The build-up of morphine in a baby’s system can result in the the baby becoming exceptionally sleepy, in breathing problems, and even death, said researchers.
At the same time researchers note that the damage may be reversible if the mom stops taking any codeine.
The finding are not new help confirm an a 2007 warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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