AAP releases first opioid prescribing guidelines for children

Editor's Note

The first clinical guidance for prescribing opioids to children recommend combining the drugs with nonopioid medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen rather than as monotherapy, according to a September 30 report in Healio. Released by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the guidance also specifies that naloxone should also be prescribed alongside opioids, as well as education on its use in case of an overdose.

According to the article, the organization issued new guidelines amid concerns that efforts to curb opioid addiction may have led pediatricians to reduce prescribing to the point of leaving severe pain untreated. Among adolescents aged 15 to 19, 8.9% were reportedly prescribed opioids in 2018, with dentists and surgeons accounting for 61.4% of opioid prescriptions for children under 21.

To reduce the risk of opioid use disorder, which reportedly can develop in 0.3% to 5.8% of young patients within a year of their prescription, the AAP advises against prescribing codeine or tramadol to children under 12, and to adolescents with conditions like obesity or obstructive sleep apnea. The guidance also highlights the importance of discussing safe storage and disposal of opioids to prevent misuse.