Your Kids On Drugs

Stay away from Children’s Cold Medication

There have not been many instances where I could say I’ve totally and completely supported a decision made by the FDA. But the recent decisions regarding children’s cold medication could help the littlest of us.
Last week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that a ban should be in effect for Young Children’s and Infant’s cold medication. The ban would apply to the use of decongestants for children under the age of two, and also ban the use of antihistamines for children under the age of six. To me, this is incredible news! Following are a few of the reasons the FDA has brought this issue up to the table.

The medications in question do nothing to truly improve the child’s health.
The FDA advisory panel that met last Friday and found that there has been no proof that cold medications aimed toward young children are effective. Dr. Daniel Rausch, director of the pediatric hospitalist program for New York University, said that cold medicine is only effective at doses that are too strong for young children. Even at a higher dosage cold medicine is only a “cover-up” for the real problem at hand. The American College of Chest Physicians even recommended eliminating the use of cough suppressants for kids under the age of 14.

Giving your child cold medication is potentially dangerous.
While the panel said that the medications have not been proven to be effective, they also found that there have been reports of the medications causing serious harm.
“These products only suppress symptoms; they do not cure coughs or colds. The ban has been proposed because these products can have serious side effects. Over 100 deaths of children have been attributed to these drugs.” Barry Brownstein, professor of economics and leadership at the University Of Baltimore. [1]
The FDA said Friday it had 54 reports of deaths in children linked to decongestants containing the ingredients pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine and ephedrine from 1969 to Sept. 13, 2006, and 69 reports of deaths linked to antihistamines with the ingredients diphenhydramine, brompheniramine and chlorpheniramine.

Buying cold medication for your child is supporting Big Pharma.
And lastly, why would we want to support the companies marketing these products?
Their obvious disdain for children’s health does not make me want to run out and spend my money for their profit. That is what it is all about, making money. And now the FDA is considering whether to ban the marketing of drugs for use in children.
The panel also voted to urge the FDA to ban the use of phrases like "doctor-recommended" on cough medicine packaging.
"I think from this day forward it has no credibility," said Marsha D. Rappley, MD, chairwoman of the FDA's Pediatric Advisory Committee. "And if it is used, it is to mislead people." [2]

Next time your child has a cold, consider your alternative options rather than immediately reaching for the Tylenol.


[1] http://givingupcontrol.wordpress.com
[2] MedicineNet.com http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=84678