Tag: codeine warning

Adoption

FDA Warning for Ethiopians

Brandi C

FDA Warning for Ethiopians

FDA Warning for Ethiopians
Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com

This is an updated post on the FDA Warning for Ethiopians. Understand, I am not a doctor and I am not advising you to do anything medically related. Please consult with your physician regarding this information. Also, please have them do their research before blindly administering these medications to your loved one.

The reason I say that is because when we were faced with a surgery, for our child, we would have never known this information. The reason we knew it is because my sister had also adopted from Ethiopia and she was made aware. I believe she was made aware through her adoption agency and support group.

A Little Bit About Our Story

There is not much I will share regarding the surgery that we needed for our child. However, I will share that when we went in, we informed the doctors and the anesthesiologist, they told us they had never heard of that before. We stood our ground and the surgery did not proceed until they thoroughly researched this topic.

Upon review (after quite a bit of time), they did come back and apologize to us. It is now flagged at this hospital (and other hospitals that we have attended). It isn’t just flagged for our child, it is flagged for people that are from Ethiopia. Granted, nothing may have happened but I wasn’t going to let my child be the guinea pig.

Warning

Here is the brief snippet from the article that is listed below:

“Some individuals may be ultra-rapid metabolizers because of a specific CYP2D6 genotype (gene duplications denoted as
1/1xN or 1/2xN). The prevalence of this CYP2D6 phenotype varies widely and has been estimated at 0.5 to 1% in
Chinese and Japanese, 0.5 to 1% in Hispanics, 1 to 10% in Caucasians, 3% in African Americans, and 16 to 28% in North
Africans, Ethiopians, and Arabs. Data are not available for other ethnic groups. These individuals convert codeine into its
active metabolite, morphine, more rapidly and completely than other people. This rapid conversion results in higher than
expected serum morphine levels. Even at labeled dosage regimens, individuals who are ultra-rapid metabolizers may have
life-threatening or fatal respiratory depression or experience signs of overdose (such as extreme sleepiness, confusion, or
shallow breathing).”

The website through the FDA can also be reviewed with your health care professionals. You can always go to All Africa to read more.

Related Topics:

Resources for Special Needs Kids

 

Our Story

Codeine Warning for Children (Especially Important for Ethiopian Families)

Brandi C

FDA Warning for Ethiopians: Codeine & Morphine

I want to share something that not every parent or even every doctor knows. Codeine is a medication often used for mild to moderate pain. I have taken it myself, and some of my children were given it years ago. For us, it caused strong reactions like nausea and even hallucinations.

What I learned later changed everything.

What Parents Need to Know

Codeine is not active on its own. The body has to convert it into morphine using an enzyme called CYP2D6. Some people have a genetic variation that makes this enzyme work too fast.

These individuals are called ultra-rapid metabolizers. When they take codeine, their body can convert it into morphine very quickly and in higher amounts than expected.

This can lead to:

  • Extreme sleepiness
  • Breathing problems
  • And in rare cases, death

Why This Matters for Ethiopian Children

Studies have shown that ultra-rapid metabolism is more common in certain populations, including individuals of Ethiopian descent.

That does not mean every Ethiopian child has this risk—but it does mean the likelihood is higher and because of this, it is incredibly important to:

  • Inform your child’s doctor of their background
  • Ask questions about medications
  • Consider alternatives to codeine when possible

Our Personal Experience

When our son had surgery at age 7, he was prescribed Tylenol with codeine. I told the medical team he was Ethiopian and mentioned the risks. At first, they were unfamiliar with this information and to their credit, they stopped, researched, and listened.

That moment reinforced something important:

  • Doctors are human. They don’t know everything.
  • Parents are allowed and responsible to advocate.

What the FDA Says

The FDA now recommends:

  • No codeine use in children under 12
  • Caution or avoidance in older children with certain risk factors

This warning applies to all children, but for families with known genetic risk factors, the conversation becomes even more important.

What We Do Now

We personally choose to avoid codeine for our child and ensure it is clearly documented in his medical records. Also, we also plan to pursue genetic testing when appropriate, to better understand how his body processes medications.

Final Thoughts

This is not about fear. It is about awareness. You don’t have to panic
but you do need to ask questions, stay informed, and speak up.

Sometimes the difference between safe and unsafe care is simply what someone knows and what they don’t. If this is new information for you, I encourage you to talk with your doctor and make sure your child’s chart reflects any concerns.

Be wise. Be aware. Advocate.

FDA Warning for Ethiopians: Codeine & Morphine