On August 17, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory on the use of codeine in breastfeeding mothers. This action comes in response to a rare occurrence that was previously reported by baby gooroo® in a post titled: Is Codeine Safe for Breastfeeding Mothers and Infants?

Use of codeine products to manage pain after birth is common, and reports of serious side effects in breastfeeding infants are rare. However, the FDA has asked the makers of prescription codeine-containing products to include information about differences in codeine metabolism and concerns with breastfeeding in the drug label. Doctors who prescribe codeine need to be aware of the potential for the increased risks to breastfeeding babies of mothers who are ultra-rapid metabolizers of codeine.