Cough drugs unsafe for children under 12
POSTED March 1, 2009 - 13:00 | POSTED BY Jaspreet Kaur
Last edited by Shikha Patial on March 1, 2009 - 14:11
United Kingdom, March 1: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned parents on the fact that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not effective in children under 12.
Parents have also been warned that such types of drugs can prove potentially hazardous for their children as these can cause side-effects such as hallucinations, sleep disturbances and certain kinds of allergic reactions.
The MHRA took into consideration a number of widely used medicines like Lemsip powders, Day Nurse and Sudafed. They found no strong evidence, which indicates that these medicines are useful for children.
Due to paucity of any concrete evidence, which supports the effectiveness of these medicines, the MHRA has decided that many of them will not be sold for use on children under six.
From now on, clear advice will be printed on the medicine packaging that indicates the dosage for children between six and 12.
Meanwhile, further research is being carried on in order to determine if these medicines are beneficial in any way.
Pharmacists will also be armed with the latest information so that they can advice parents about which medicines can be used safely without harming their children.
However, the MHRA has asked parents not to get bothered if they have used these medicines previously. The drugs would not be taken off the market shelves.
Calpol and other such drugs, which are used to relieve pain and lower temperature in children, will remain unaltered with the implementation of new rules.
Eight medicines have been identified as unsafe for children under six by the MHRA. These medicines are, Beechams, Veno’s Honey and Lemon, Benylin, Tickly Coughs, CalCough, TicklyCare, Glycerin Lemon & Honey with Glucose. None of these medicines should be administered to children under one.
