Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
Taiwan Shin Sheng Daily News
Wan Bochao / Comprehensive Foreign Reports
April 23, 2014
Cough medicines are often misused. Dr. Sunitha Kaiser, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that powerful pain relievers and cough suppressants such as codeine are not suitable for children, yet prescriptions for these medications can still be seen for pediatric patients.
Dr. Sunitha Kaiser pointed out that there are other clinical alternatives to replace codeine for cough suppression and pain relief. Moreover, codeine’s effectiveness in treating coughs in children is limited. Due to enzymatic processes, codeine can be converted into morphine in the body, which suppresses respiration. When children take higher doses of codeine, it is rapidly and extensively metabolized into morphine, increasing the risk of life-threatening complications.
Additionally, immediately taking cough suppressants may temporarily alleviate symptoms but could also mask the underlying cause of the cough. If coughing persists for more than a month after taking prescribed medication, it is advisable to undergo a chest X-ray or pulmonary function test to further identify the root cause.
Coughing is actually a protective reflex of the body, helping to expel harmful substances or irritants from the airways. Therefore, treatment should first focus on identifying the cause before prescribing medication. Indiscriminate use of cough suppressants may obscure the true nature of the illness and delay timely treatment.
The goal of cough treatment is to relieve severe coughing, clear airway secretions, and remove irritants—not simply to reduce or suppress the cough reflex. Otherwise, the cough is likely to recur.
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……5% 92% E7% AB% A5- 160000545. html
Strong Cough Medicine for Pain Relief - Not Suitable for Children
Wan Bochao / Comprehensive Foreign Reports
April 23, 2014
Cough medicines are often misused. Dr. Sunitha Kaiser, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that powerful pain relievers and cough suppressants such as codeine are not suitable for children, yet prescriptions for these medications can still be seen for pediatric patients.
Dr. Sunitha Kaiser pointed out that there are other clinical alternatives to replace codeine for cough suppression and pain relief. Moreover, codeine’s effectiveness in treating coughs in children is limited. Due to enzymatic processes, codeine can be converted into morphine in the body, which suppresses respiration. When children take higher doses of codeine, it is rapidly and extensively metabolized into morphine, increasing the risk of life-threatening complications.
Additionally, immediately taking cough suppressants may temporarily alleviate symptoms but could also mask the underlying cause of the cough. If coughing persists for more than a month after taking prescribed medication, it is advisable to undergo a chest X-ray or pulmonary function test to further identify the root cause.
Coughing is actually a protective reflex of the body, helping to expel harmful substances or irritants from the airways. Therefore, treatment should first focus on identifying the cause before prescribing medication. Indiscriminate use of cough suppressants may obscure the true nature of the illness and delay timely treatment.
The goal of cough treatment is to relieve severe coughing, clear airway secretions, and remove irritants—not simply to reduce or suppress the cough reflex. Otherwise, the cough is likely to recur.
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……5% 92% E7% AB% A5- 160000545. html