Warn Parents About Dangers Cold Medicines Pose for Kids

Family physicians should alert the parents of their younger patients that the FDA has issued a public health advisory regarding the use of over-the-counter, or OTC, cough and cold medications for children.

"Do not use cough and cold products in children under 2 years of age, unless given specific directions to do so by a health care provider," the advisory says. "Too much medicine may lead to serious and life-threatening side effects, particularly in children aged 2 years and younger."

The Aug. 15 advisory tells parents to use only products marked for use in babies, infants and children. Such products are sometimes packaged as pediatric formulas.

In addition, the advisory offers some advice.

The advisory reminds parents that cough and cold medicines only treat cold symptoms and do not cure colds. It also recommends that if a child's condition worsens or fails to improve with time, parents should take the child to a health care professional for evaluation.

"Some reports of serious adverse events associated with the use of these products appear to be the result of giving too much of these medicines to children," the advisory says.

Neurological problems, such as seizures and loss of consciousness, have been attributed to dextromethorphan -- an ingredient often included in cold medications -- and pseudoephedrine, another common ingredient, has been associated with infant deaths, increased blood pressure and arrhythmias.

The FDA will convene its Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and its Pediatric Advisory Committee Oct. 18-19 to discuss the safety and effectiveness of cough and cold medicines.