The (US) FDA issued a warning recently about a potentially
fatal risk associated with the use of codeine in kids who’ve just undergone a tonsillectomy
and adenoidectomy, and the wearning consisted of this advice vis-à-vis the use
of codeine in kids, that children in that category should receive only the
lowest effective dose of codeine, for the shortest time, and only on an
as-needed basis.
Know what?
That’s the same advice that should be followed for every
single drug anyone takes: the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of
time possible, and only if the benefits clearly outweigh the never-absent risk.
Pin that advice on your fridge.
Better yet, just memorize it and repeat it when getting
any new prescription or selecting any new over-the-counter med.
