Dihydrocodeine Bitartrate
Risk Factor: B*
Class: CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DRUGS
/ Narcotic Agonist Analgesics
Contents of this page:
Fetal Risk Summary
Breast Feeding Summary
References
Questions and Answers
Fetal Risk Summary
No reports linking the use of dihydrocodeine with congenital defects have been located. Usage in pregnancy is primarily confined to labor. Respiratory depression in the newborn has been reported to be less than with meperidine, but depression is probably similar when equianalgesic doses are compared (1,2 and 3).
[*Risk Factor D if used for prolonged periods or in high doses at term.]
Breast Feeding Summary
No reports describing the use of dihydrocodeine bitartrate during lactation have been located. Because other opiates are excreted into milk (e.g., see Morphine) and the molecular weight (about 452) of dihydrocodeine bitartrate is low enough, the presence of the narcotic in milk should be expected. The long-term effects on neurobehavior and development in a nursing infant are unknown but warrant study.
References
- Ruch WA, Ruch RM. A preliminary report on dihydrocodeine-scopolamine in obstetrics. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1957;74:11257.
- Myers JD. A preliminary clinical evaluation of dihydrocodeine bitartrate in normal parturition. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1958;75:1096100.
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Bonica JJ. Principles and Practice of Obstetric Analgesia and Anaesthesia. Philadelphia, PA:FA Davis, 1967:245.
