Aside from the odd case of Munchausen by proxy syndrome (MBPS), no parent intentionally gives their child medicine that does more harm than good. Unfortunately, even the best of intentions can go awry and medicines which we assume to be safe turn out to be among the most dangerous of all. Parents of small children know to be vigilant about what they give their babies to ease illness, but sometimes we all need a reminder.
• Codeine is a pain reliever found in a lot of over the counter (OTC) and prescription medicines. It’s also used to treat coughs, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and, occasionally, narcolepsy. It’s habit forming and is often used by teenagers as a recreational drug. It’s inadvisable to give any medicine with codeine in it to children under the age of two and to use extreme caution when administering it to children under the age of six. In certain instances, doctors may recommend codeine for young children, in which case you should pay strict attention to the dosages and instructions. Side-effects to watch out for include excessive