News and press releases: Restrictions on use of codeine for pain relief in children – CMDh endorses PRAC recommendation (EMA - European Medicines Agency)

(Source: EMA - European Medicines Agency) 28/06/2013 Restrictions on use of codeine for pain relief in children - CMDh endorses PRAC recommendation The Co-ordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures - Human (CMDh) has endorsed by consensus a series of risk minimisation measures to address safety concerns with codeine-containing medicines when used for the management of pain in children. Codeine is an opioid that is authorised as a painkiller in adults and children. The effect of codeine on pain is due to its conversion into morphine in the patient's body. This follows a review of these medicines by the EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), which...