Six children's cough syrups taken off open shelves
Parents are advised to treat coughs and colds in under twos with paracetamol and simple cough mixtures
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Thursday, 27, Mar 2008 11:46
Six children's cough syrups are to be taken off stores' open shelves amid safety fears about side effects in under twos.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) made the decision after reviewing over-the-counter (OTC) medicines used for treating coughs and colds in young children.
The six products are Asda Children's Chesty Cough Syrup; Boots Chesty Cough Syrup 1 Year Plus; Boots Sore Throat and Cough Linctus 1 Year Plus; Buttercup Infant Cough Syrup; CalCough Chesty; and Children's Chesty Cough.
These medicines can still be supplied under the supervision of a pharmacist for older children.
The MHRA's review followed a similar study in the United States which uncovered a number of serious reports, mainly involving parents giving too much medicine because they were confused about the dosage.
The US study led to the country's food and drink administration announcement that OTC cough and cold preparations should no longer be used in children under two.
The MHRA said today that in the UK there have been far fewer reports, but the data suggests that children under two are at greater risk of any potential harm.
Professor Rosalind Smyth, chair of the Commission on Human Medicines paediatric medicines expert advisory group, said: "Coughs and colds are generally self limiting conditions which will get better themselves usually within a few days.
"The management of symptoms in the under twos is best achieved with treatment to control fever (ibuprofen or paracetamol), together with simple cough mixtures."
Following the MHRA review the pharmaceutical industry has voluntarily agreed to change the labels on products to remove the dosage instructions for children under two, and to add additional instructions in relation to children aged two to six years.
The labels of all affected products are currently being changed and will be in pharmacies and stores by October 2008.