Pain Medication – The Checkup

Provider Alert! Codeine and Tramadol should NOT be prescribed for children

On April 20, 2017 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement that CODEINE is CONTRAINDICATED for treatment of pain or cough for children under 12 years. The also WARN against its use in adolescents 12-18 years old, especially those with obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, or severe lung disease. The FDA considers TRAMADOL to be CONTRAINDICATED for children younger than 18 to treat pain from tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. Note that Tramadol is not FDA approved for use in...

Not Too Much and Not Too Long: Appropriate Use of Opiates for Pain Management

In March 2016, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. The most important points for primary care providers treating acute pain severe enough to require opioids are to prescribe the lowest effective dose of immediate-release opioids and to prescribe a quantity no greater than what is necessary. Three days or less will often be sufficient; more than seven days will rarely be needed. Opioid pain medication use presents serious risks,...

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