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| Child cold drugs under scrutiny | Child cold drugs under scrutiny |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The effectiveness of some over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under 12 has been placed in doubt by a government agency. | The effectiveness of some over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under 12 has been placed in doubt by a government agency. |
| A review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found "no robust evidence" that many popular remedies work in children. | A review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found "no robust evidence" that many popular remedies work in children. |
| Possible side effects could include disturbed sleep, allergic reactions and hallucinations, the MHRA added. | |
| It stressed there are no specific safety concerns with these medicines. | It stressed there are no specific safety concerns with these medicines. |
| Due to a lack of evidence that many of the medicines do any good, the MHRA has decided they can no longer be sold for use on children under six. | |
| New, clearer dosage advice for children between six and 12 will also be published on packets. | |
| Pharmacists will be issued with new advice to give to parents about which medicines to use. | |
| But the MHRA said parents should not worry if they had used the medicines in the past, and shop shelves will not be cleared of current stocks. | |
| Remedies used to lower a child's temperature, such as Calpol, are unaffected by the new rules. |