Establishing causality of CNS depression in breastfed infants following maternal codeine use.
BACKGROUND
We recently reported on a breastfed infant who succumbed to opioid toxicity following exposure to morphine, the active metabolite of codeine, which was prescribed to his mother who was a cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) ultrarapid metabolizer. This report is believed to be the first case of neonatal fatality as a direct result of maternal drug excretion into breast milk and, therefore, it is critical to corroborate the causative relationship between maternal codeine use during breastfeeding and neonatal opioid toxicity with other existing evidence.


OBJECTIVE
To establish whether maternal use of codeine can be a cause of CNS depression in breastfed infants.


METHODS
A systematic review of the medical literature using several databases was conducted. The Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale (NADRPS) was used to examine causality.


RESULTS
In addition to our case report, three abstracts and two full-length studies reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in infants exposed to codeine in breast milk. In total, 35 infants were identified. Specifically, ADRs were described as unexplained episodes of drowsiness, apnea, bradycardia, and cyanosis in suckling infants. Using the NADRPS, codeine was found to be a definite cause of CNS depression in breastfed infants.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of codeine by breastfeeding mothers can cause adverse CNS events in breastfed infants. Physicians should recognize codeine use during breastfeeding as a cause of CNS depression in infants, and breastfeeding mothers should be educated on these adverse events before receiving codeine.
Madadi
Parvaz
P
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Shirazi
Farshad
F
Walter
Frank G
FG
Koren
Gideon
G
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects; D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003061:Codeine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D009020:Morphine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D012894:Sleep Stages
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine; D003061:Codeine