Several makers of OTC cough and cold medicines are recalling certain products because of the risk of overdose, especially in kids age two and under. At the very least, the FDA thinks the products should come with labels saying they aren't recommended for young kids. Since 1969 there have been 54 deaths with decongestants and 69 with antihistamines reported to the FDA, and most in kids under two. Now that's not a stunningly large number, so why are these medicines being taken off the shelves?
Well, let's do a risk-benefit breakdown. While the risks of bad outcomes in cough medicine use are small, they do exist. Contrast that with the studies showing no benefit to using these meds. (And I assume we are not considering the "benefit" of dosing kids with the stuff so they'll sleep during airplane flights and so on, because you know, we've been warned not to do that.) In fact, a group of doctors and public health folks have filed a petition with the FDA because the drugs give cause for concern. Like this: ""There are no good studies that provide any information about
appropriate dosing if they did work,' said Dr. Steven Czinn, chair of
the department of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of
Medicine and a signer of the petition. 'In the 21st century, it is unacceptable to be marketing medication to infants and children that may not work.'" Um, yeah! And we were all worried about the toys...
Here's some of the meds that have been recalled: Concentrated Infants' TYLENOL Drops Plus Cold; Concentrated Infants'
TYLENOL Drops Plus Cold & Cough; PEDIACARE Infant Drops
Decongestant (PSE); PEDIACARE Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough
(PSE); PEDIACARE Infant Dropper Decongestant (PE); PEDIACARE Infant
Dropper Long-Acting Cough; PEDIACARE Infant Dropper Decongestant &
Cough (PE) products; Dimetapp Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops;
Demetapp Decongestant Infant Drops; Little Colds Decongestant Plus
Cough; Little Colds Multi-Symptom Cold Formula; Robitussin Infant Cough
DM Drops; Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant and
Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant Plus Cough.
