US FDA warns 'ultra-rapid metabolizers' at risk after codeine deaths
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
The US FDA on 15 August warned that some patients have genetic variations that can cause codeine to be converted to toxic levels, putting them at a higher risk for inadvertent overdose or death – an alert that was triggered after three children died of respiratory depression after being given the medicine following surgery to remove their tonsils or adenoids.