F.D.A. Panel Favors Ban on Pediatric Cold Medicines

Children under the age of two suffer from the common cold just like everyone else and are usually treated with medicine specifically designed for them. Now looking at these pediatric cold medicines more closely the FDA has found that most are ineffective and some are even harmful for children two and under. The 13 out of 9 of the FDA panel members on the issue voted to pull these cold medicines off the shelves. Many said that if they weren't serving any purpose, there was no reason to continue offering them to children. The nine that opposed the ban said that they didn't approve of all these drugs to be banned because without these pediatric medicines available, they believe many parents will resort to adult medications, which runs an even higher and more dangerous risk of overdose.

Most panelists also voted that the term "doctor recommended" should be banned since most pediatricians in actuality are not recommending these drugs. The panel also voted to require standard measuring devices across products so that parents who buy one product will not harm their child if they accidentally use the dropper from another.“You can take a cup from one item and place it on a totally different drug without the family recognizing it,” said Dr. Michael R. Cohen, president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Huntington Valley, Pa.

Children are not just little adults, they have completely different needs nutritionally and medically than adults do and people need to recognize this. Many manufacturers that could be held liable for any hazard associated with their medicine are arguing that it is only a problem of unintentional overdose. When used following the directions and taking the appropriate amount, there drugs are safe and effective. For now many products for children under two have been withdrawn from the market.

In the 1970's many drugs were approved by the FDA for use by children. These drugs that were approved then, have now been found to be mostly ineffective and sometimes dangerous. With less medical studies in the 70's many drugs that were being administered to children were almost identical to those used by adults, just in smaller doses. What's worse, is the fact that the hazards on the labels were inaccurate many times. Drugs had been tested on adults and the adult side affects and warnings were the ones on the labels. A lot of the drugs used today have been used since that time which is causing the problem now in the US with over the counter medicine.