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Drug companies: No cold medicines for kids under 4
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WASHINGTON -- Children under 4 should not be given cough and cold medicines, the drug company industry said today in announcing new voluntary guidelines for such products.
The industry has been criticized by pediatricians for marketing over-the-counter cough and cold remedies for children under 6 despite a lack of evidence that they work and reports of safety problems.
Linda Suydam, president of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, said the companies were voluntarily making the change "out of an abundance of caution." The association represents leading manufacturers and distributors of nonprescription, over-the-counter medicines and nutritional supplements.
The companies will also add a warning to their product labels saying parents should not give young children antihistamines to make them sleepy. Antihistamines are used to relieve allergies.
Government health officials said last week the issue needed additional study.
Posted by rlc00b on October 7, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The companies will also add a warning to their product labels saying parents should not give young children antihistamines to make them sleepy."
Seriously?! I've heard of people doing this, but I can safely say that I've never done it. Not only is it wrong, but the drugs can act the complete opposite way and ramp them up instead of making them sleepy. They act that way with my son, so I try not to have to give him medicine.
Posted by jamieg on October 7, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think you would be shocked at how commonly physicians hear of this practice.
It stems from the fact that antihistamines (such as Benadryl, etc) are frequently prescribed to address insomnia among adults. Bendaryl, etc. is actually a very safe medication when used appropriately in that manner. It is certainly much safer than many of the alternative prescribed sedatives.
However, for a parent or caregiver to meter out any kind of over-the-counter medication in an effort to sedate their child is both extremely dangerous and abusive.
Posted by WstTxLady on October 7, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Its really NOT the doctors, manufacturers or stores fault. Its the parents that MISS-USE these products & over dose their kids just to shut them up. Its wrong.
As for Benadrly, its ADDICTING. I have asked several doctors in several diffrent practices & all said taking it to sleep makes it as addicting as Ambein & such.
Posted by newguy062 on October 8, 2008 at 12:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cough medicines are essentially useless. DXM (dextromethorphan), is the active ingredient in most cough surpressents. It has been labled a dissociative and psychedelic, in other words all it does is get you high.
Gotta love hypocrisy...
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/dxm/
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