What is it about?
This study reviewed research on the side effects and health risks of opioids prescribed to treat pain in children and adults. It found that children experience more serious reactions, such as breathing problems and drowsiness, while adults are more likely to have heart or seizure-related effects. The results highlight the need for safer prescribing and closer monitoring to prevent harm, especially in younger patients.
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Why is it important?
This review is one of the first to compare harmful effects of prescribed opioids between children and adults. By distinguishing age-related differences in toxicity and clinical outcomes, it provides timely evidence to guide safer, more personalized prescribing and improve opioid risk assessment in healthcare practice.
Perspectives
This publication reinforces the urgent need to look beyond opioid misuse and focus on the harms caused by prescribed use—especially in children, where safety data are scarce. I believe our findings can help clinicians balance pain control with patient safety and strengthen pharmacovigilance efforts globally.
PhD João José Joaquim
Instituto Politecnico de Coimbra
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Harmful Effects of Prescribed Opioids in Children and Adults: A Systematic Review, Pharmaceuticals, September 2025, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/ph18101429.
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