Codeine can turn toxic in nursing mothers
Gene transformed drug into morphine, which killed infant

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060510.wxcodeine10/BNStory/National/home

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

TORONTO - Some mothers prescribed codeine after childbirth carry multiple
copies of a gene capable of transforming the common pain reliever into
morphine, producing a toxic breast milk that in one case killed a newborn.

The case, to be presented today at a scientific meeting in Toronto, will
reveal what is described as the first documented fatality of its kind -- a
morphine overdose through the ingestion of breast milk, said Gideon Koren,
director of the Hospital for Sick Children's Motherisk Program.

(see link for full item).

[I'm interested to hear comments on this one, especially what Dr. Hale might
say about this]

Janice Reynolds

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