FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has restricted the use of codeine to treat pain or cough in children younger than 12 years. This is because it poses serious risks, including slowed or difficult breathing and death, which appear to be a greater risk in children younger than 12 years. Along with this, this medicine is also not recommended to breastfeeding mothers due to the risk of serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants. These include excess sleepiness, difficulty breastfeeding, or serious breathing problems which can be fatal.