Codeine and Coughing

Pediatrics for Parents, Jan, 2001

How do you medicate a child with a cough? Most doctors and parents believe there are two effective cough suppressants - dextromethorphan and codeine. Cough medicines containing the first usually end with "DM." Codeine containing cough medicines often end with "AC." Now there's a recent report questions the effective of codeine as a cough suppressant.

The researchers from the UCLA Medical School found that in 91 subjects codeine syrup was no more effective at reducing cough from upper respiratory infections (colds, sinusitis, etc.) than a placebo syrup. Another study found codeine ineffective in reducing cough duration and intensity. A study of 49 children comparing codeine, hydrocodone (a synthetic narcotic used in place of codeine), and placebo for the control of nighttime cough found all had an equal effect. In other words, the drugs did no better than sugar syrup (the placebo) in controlling the coughing.

So does codeine in cough suppressants help? It may make your children drowsy, thus helping them sleep. But it won't do anything for their coughing -- and there are safer drugs to use if sleeping is the problem.

Family Practice News, 12/15/00, p.23.