Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Kids' cold remedies under review

Government health officials said Friday they are reviewing whether popular medicines such as Tylenol Plus Cold & Cough and Infant Triaminic...

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Government health officials said Friday they are reviewing whether popular medicines such as Tylenol Plus Cold & Cough and Infant Triaminic Thin Strips are safe and effective in treating children's colds and coughs.

Disclosure of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review, which will take months, came as critics charged that many over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold remedies can harm toddlers and preschoolers. Those critics, including public-health officials and pediatricians, are pushing the government for stricter warnings to prevent life-threatening overdoses.

"We have been looking at this issue internally with regard to the safety and efficacy of the use of these products in children," Dr. Charles Ganley, director of the FDA's office of nonprescription-drug products, said as he responded to a petition filed Thursday by Baltimore officials and others. The review covers medicines that include decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants and expectorants.

The petition is not the first warning about the use of such medicines with toddlers and babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics began issuing those warnings to parents in 1997. Two months ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 1,500 toddlers and babies wound up in emergency rooms in a two-year period because of the drugs.

The study's authors told parents to consult a doctor before giving the remedies to children younger than 2.

The labels of every cough and cold remedy caution parents to do that, said Linda Suydam, president of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents makers of over-the-counter medicines. "OTC cough and cold remedies have a long history of safety when used according to the label," Suydam said.

Still, product packaging often bears images of children apparently much younger than 2, and terms such as "infant" and "baby." The petitioners called that misleading, adding that the average drugstore stocks more than 30 such products.

The FDA has never approved dosing recommendations for the 0-2 age group for the drugs. The petition asks the FDA to require that labels say the products shouldn't be used to treat children younger than 6.

In large doses, the drugs can increase blood pressure, cause irregular heart rhythm and lead to strokes and death, Baltimore's commissioner of health, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, said.

Material from Bloomberg News

is included in this report.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

UPDATE - 06:32 PM
Sources: Obama near decision on Afghanistan troops

UPDATE - 06:42 PM
Abortion could roil Senate health care debate

Troops in Afghanistan fight swine flu amid war

UPDATE - 06:32 PM
Investigators say Fort Hood suspect acted alone

Salvadoran town hit by landslide buries dead

Advertising

Video

Pelosi answers questions at Swedish Medical Center
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi answers questions after addressing the media at Swedish Medical Center regarding health care.

Pelosi speaks at Swedish Medical Center
"Pistol" Pete Ryan
Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Susan Hutchison

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising