ABUSE OF CODEINE DURING PREGNANCY - CLINI CAL MANIFESTATIONS AND CODEINE PHARMACOKINETICS IN THE NEONATE - 3 CASE-REPORTS

Total urinary excretion of narcotics was measured using a quantitative EMIT variant in three neonates born to codeine-abusers (75 to 570 mg codeine/day). Two of the infants were born prematurely. The codeine el imination rate was similar to that in adults in the full-term neonate and slower in the premature babies. Data from this study suggest that neonates with a gestational age of 35 weeks (as determined by menstrua l history) have immature codeine elimination processes.