Children's Doctor Weighs In On FDA Approval Of Oxycontin For Kids
By Lynne Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- The FDA recently approved the use of the powerful painkiller Oxycontin for children as young as 11.
Until now there has been only one long acting painkiller doctors could prescribe for children.
Dr. Catherine Soprano, a pediatrician at Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, says at times there is need for such a medication if the child has significant pain from illness, surgery or trauma.
"Spinal fusion surgery for patients who have scoliosis and need to have their spine straightened, this is a very extensive surgery," she says as an example of when the drug could be used. "If somebody has had a very significant trauma such as a car accident."
But Soprano adds that Oxycontin has serious issues.
"This is a very addicting medication," Soprano says. "It's also very long acting. If you take too much of it it's difficult to reverse it, it's going to be in their system for 12-24 hours."
Although she treats children in pain, she does not plan on prescribing this medication.
