Infant Cough and Cold Medicines

Infant Cough and Cold Medicines Pulled From the Market

Given concerns that accidental misuse can lead to overdose, many manufacturers of over-the-counter infant cough and cold medicines are voluntarily pulling their products off the market, reports the New York Times.

The withdrawal comes 2 weeks after the industry’s trade group, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, advised that the oral products not be used in children younger than 2 years. The group says that between 1969 and 2006, at least 45 children died after using decongestants, and 69 after antihistamines.

An FDA advisory panel will meet next week to discuss the medicines' safety.

Not only may the medications be unsafe, but there is scant evidence that they're effective in young children, according to the Times story.

Withdrawn medicines include Dimetapp Decongestant Infant Drops, Pediacare Infant Drops Decongestant, and Tylenol Concentrated Infant Drops Plus Cold and Cough.

New York Times story (Free)

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