Prescribing Patterns of Codeine and Alternative Medicines in Children in Europe.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Concerns over serious respiratory depression in children led to two European Union (EU) referral procedures (in 2013 and 2015) to review the benefit-risk balance of codeine in this population when used for pain relief, cough or cold. Consequently, codeine should no longer be used in children aged < 12 years and restrictions were introduced for treatment in children ≥ 12 years.

Objective

This multinational collaborative study aimed to assess the effectiveness of these risk minimisation measures by evaluating changes in prescribing of codeine and alternative treatments.

Method

Children under 12 and 12-18 years old were followed between 2010 and 2017 to analyse quarterly trends in prescribing of codeine and alternative treatments in electronic health records

SUBMITTER: Plueschke K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9492592 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature