Pharmacist and Pediatrician Knowledge of Codeine Use in Children

In 2011, approximately 1.7 million pediatric patients had a codeine-containing prescription filled at a US retail pharmacy. Numerous cases involving serious adverse effects or fatalities have been reported in children who have been prescribed codeine. In 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration added a boxed warning to avoid codeine in children after a tonsillectomy. The purpose of this study is to determine pharmacists' and pediatricians' knowledge of the boxed warning for codeine in children.

Two separate surveys were administered to community pharmacists in Maryland, pediatricians, and pediatric residents at a single institution in Maryland. Both surveys consisted of questions regarding knowledge of the boxed warning for codeine in children.

There was no difference in the awareness of the boxed warning between pharmacists (48.9%, n = 43) and pediatricians (51.3%, n = 41, p = 0.88). More pharmacists knew that ultrarapid metabolizers have the risk for increased adverse events from codeine (39.5% pharmacists vs. 20% pediatricians, p = 0.01). In addition, 36% of pharmacists and 33% of pediatricians noted that it was never appropriate to use codeine in a child (p = 0.73).

Only half of pharmacists and pediatricians surveyed were aware of the boxed warning for codeine. One third of pharmacists and pediatricians in this study would never use codeine in a child. Therefore, more education is needed for pharmacists and pediatricians regarding the dangers of using codeine in children.