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Six baby cough medicines pulled Six baby cough medicines pulled
(10 minutes later)
Cough remedies aimed at very young children are to be removed from shelves amid fears of accidental overdose.Cough remedies aimed at very young children are to be removed from shelves amid fears of accidental overdose.
The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has ordered six products be permanently removed from sale for children aged under two.The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has ordered six products be permanently removed from sale for children aged under two.
They are Asda Children's Chesty Cough Syrup, Calcough Chesty and Boots Chesty Cough Syrup - one year plus.They are Asda Children's Chesty Cough Syrup, Calcough Chesty and Boots Chesty Cough Syrup - one year plus.
Also, Children's Chesty Cough and Boots sore throat and cough linctus one year plus and Buttercup infant cough syrup.Also, Children's Chesty Cough and Boots sore throat and cough linctus one year plus and Buttercup infant cough syrup.
There's nothing wrong with these medicines, it was the way that they had been given Sara Coakley MHRAThere's nothing wrong with these medicines, it was the way that they had been given Sara Coakley MHRA
The medicines are to be removed from open shelves, and will not be sold by pharmacists for children under two.The medicines are to be removed from open shelves, and will not be sold by pharmacists for children under two.
Instead, parents are being urged to stick to paracetamol and ibuprofen medicines, vapour rubs and simple cough syrup such as glycerol, honey or lemon.Instead, parents are being urged to stick to paracetamol and ibuprofen medicines, vapour rubs and simple cough syrup such as glycerol, honey or lemon.
There are 12 ingredients found in the remedies causing concern.There are 12 ingredients found in the remedies causing concern.
They are brompheniramine; chlorphenamine; diphenhydramine; dextromethorphan; pholcodine; guaifenesin; ipecacuanha; phenylephrine; pseudoephedrine; ephedrine; oxymetazoline and xylometazoline.They are brompheniramine; chlorphenamine; diphenhydramine; dextromethorphan; pholcodine; guaifenesin; ipecacuanha; phenylephrine; pseudoephedrine; ephedrine; oxymetazoline and xylometazoline.
'Precautionary measure''Precautionary measure'
The medicines of concern all contain a combination of these ingredients.The medicines of concern all contain a combination of these ingredients.
MEDICINES NOT TO BE USED FOR UNDER-TWOS Buttercup Infant Cough SyrupBoots Chesty Cough Syrup one-year plusBoots Sore Throat and Cough Linctus one-year plusCalcough ChestyChildren's Chesty CoughAsda Children's Chesty Cough SyrupMEDICINES NOT TO BE USED FOR UNDER-TWOS Buttercup Infant Cough SyrupBoots Chesty Cough Syrup one-year plusBoots Sore Throat and Cough Linctus one-year plusCalcough ChestyChildren's Chesty CoughAsda Children's Chesty Cough Syrup
The MHRA says there is no evidence that such multi-ingredient medicines are of any benefit to the under-twos.The MHRA says there is no evidence that such multi-ingredient medicines are of any benefit to the under-twos.
There have been concerns in the US over such medicines after parents gave children too high a dose, or more than one product containing the same ingredients.There have been concerns in the US over such medicines after parents gave children too high a dose, or more than one product containing the same ingredients.
There have also been some similar reports in the UK.There have also been some similar reports in the UK.
There have been five deaths in children under two where cough and cold medicines may have been a factor, according to the MHRA.
About 90 more cough remedies which are licensed for use in over-twos are to be removed from shelves until they can be repackaged to include advice that they should not be given to children under that age.About 90 more cough remedies which are licensed for use in over-twos are to be removed from shelves until they can be repackaged to include advice that they should not be given to children under that age.
Until that time, they will be kept behind pharmacy counters.Until that time, they will be kept behind pharmacy counters.
READ THE LIST IN FULL Products authorised for use in children under six which can be sold as before [143KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE LIST IN FULL Products authorised for use in children under six which can be sold as before [143KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
MHRA spokeswoman Sara Coakley said: "It's a precautionary measure. They are not dangerous."MHRA spokeswoman Sara Coakley said: "It's a precautionary measure. They are not dangerous."
She went on: "If they had been dangerous, we'd have had them off the market in seconds. Nobody should panic.She went on: "If they had been dangerous, we'd have had them off the market in seconds. Nobody should panic.
"There's nothing wrong with these medicines, it was the way that they had been given.""There's nothing wrong with these medicines, it was the way that they had been given."
Overdose riskOverdose risk
Anyone who asks to buy these products will be questioned about the age of the child who is unwell.Anyone who asks to buy these products will be questioned about the age of the child who is unwell.
ADVICE TO PARENTS Use either paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve a baby or toddler's pain and lower their temperatureTo treat a cough, simple mixtures of glycerol, lemon and honey are bestIf a child over two has a cough, over-the-counter medicines can be usedVapour rubs and infant decongestants plus saline drops can be used to relieve a stuffy or blocked noseADVICE TO PARENTS Use either paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve a baby or toddler's pain and lower their temperatureTo treat a cough, simple mixtures of glycerol, lemon and honey are bestIf a child over two has a cough, over-the-counter medicines can be usedVapour rubs and infant decongestants plus saline drops can be used to relieve a stuffy or blocked nose
The product can be sold if the child is older than two and an advice leaflet will be provided.The product can be sold if the child is older than two and an advice leaflet will be provided.
The spokeswoman said the medicines could be dangerous if people gave a child more than the recommended dose, or gave them more than one product at the same time.The spokeswoman said the medicines could be dangerous if people gave a child more than the recommended dose, or gave them more than one product at the same time.
She said the advice had been updated after they found many parents were unwittingly overdosing children.She said the advice had been updated after they found many parents were unwittingly overdosing children.
She said youngsters under two are "particularly susceptible because of their small size", creating a "risk of overdose".She said youngsters under two are "particularly susceptible because of their small size", creating a "risk of overdose".
And she admitted there had been an increase in "adverse reactions" to the products, although she said this had been more widely observed in the United States where improved packaging had since been introduced.And she admitted there had been an increase in "adverse reactions" to the products, although she said this had been more widely observed in the United States where improved packaging had since been introduced.
Sheila Kelly, of the Pharmaceutical Association of Great Britain (PAGB) said the industry was voluntarily removing the doses for children under two from the labels of many cold and cough remedies.Sheila Kelly, of the Pharmaceutical Association of Great Britain (PAGB) said the industry was voluntarily removing the doses for children under two from the labels of many cold and cough remedies.
She added: "Products with the new labelling will be introduced as soon as possible over the next six months."She added: "Products with the new labelling will be introduced as soon as possible over the next six months."
And David Price, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, added: "It is good practice to restrict the use of over-the-counter products for the treatment of cough and cold symptoms in children under two."And David Price, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, added: "It is good practice to restrict the use of over-the-counter products for the treatment of cough and cold symptoms in children under two."