Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
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Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf · Nov 2019
Comparative StudyIndividual short-acting opioids and the risk of opioid-related adverse events in adolescents.
Hydrocodone, codeine, oxycodone, and tramadol are frequently prescribed to adolescents for moderate pain related to minor trauma or dental, surgical, or medical procedures. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between these opioids could affect their relative safety. We aimed to compare occurrence of opioid-related adverse events in adolescents without cancer or other severe conditions taking hydrocodone, codeine, oxycodone, and tramadol. ⋯ In adolescents without cancer or other severe conditions prescribed short-acting opioids, the incidence of both all opioid-related adverse events and more serious events with opioid-related escalation of care, hospitalization, or death was consistently greater for tramadol than for hydrocodone.