Non-prescription pain relief products containing codeine are not recommended for use in people under 18 years of age

Product: Non-prescription pain relief products containing codeine Issue: Non-prescription pain relief products containing codeine should not be used by people under 18 years of age What to do: People under 18 years of age should not use non-prescription products containing codeine, including for the purpose of pain relief. Consult your healthcare professional about alternative methods and products to treat pain. Media enquiries Public enquiries OTTAWA – The Government of Canada is committed to informing Canadians about the risks of health products that contain opioids. As a result, Health Canada is advising Canadians that people under 18 years of age should not use non-prescription pain relief products containing codeine. Non-prescription codeine-containing pain relief products were previously not recommended for children and youth under 12 years of age. This recent action is an extension of Health Canada’s previous advice to Canadians that people under 18 years of age should not use cough and cold products that contain opioids, including codeine. Health Canada continues to encourage patients, parents and caregivers to consult with their healthcare professional about the use of prescription pain relief products containing codeine or other opioids. These actions are a result of the Department reviewing all available information on non-prescription codeine-containing pain relief products, which demonstrated that using opioids at a young age may contribute to the development of problematic substance use later in life. Health Canada is working with manufacturers of non-prescription pain relief products containing codeine to update their product safety information to reflect the Department’s recommendation that people under 18 years of age should not use these products. Should any new safety issue arise, Health Canada will take immediate and appropriate action.