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Children Still Taking Dangerous OTC Medicine, Study Finds

Parents still dosing kids with cough and cold medicines

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

June 2, 2008

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Despite Food and Drug Administration concerns about the safety and efficacy of over-the-counter cold medicine for very young children, a new study shows it is still in widespread use.

Research led by Katherine O'Donnell, M.D. of Children's Hospital Boston reveals a third of children under the age of two with bronchiolitis had received over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in the week prior to visiting an emergency room.

Guidelines released by the American College of Chest Physicians in 2005 indicate that many of the active ingredients in cough remedies may be ineffective. Americans spend $3.5 billion annually on over-the-counter cough remedies, but experts quoted by the Harvard Health Letter have said much of this money is wasted.

Earlier this year the FDA recalled some children's cough medicine, saying the over-the-counter cold products might be harmful to children under age two. In a Public Health Advisory for parents and caregivers, the agency recommended these products should not be used to treat infants and children less than two years of age because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur.

This latest study indicates that warning has not been fully heeded.

"After the recall and labeling changes, it will be important to monitor for potential ongoing use of these medicines in young children and observe if parents or physicians are turning to other therapies in place of these medications," O'Donnell said.

Given these findings and the fact that non-concentrated cough and cold formulations remain available for over-the-counter use, the authors encourage physicians to counsel all parents of young children about these ineffective and potentially dangerous medications.

While the study did not identify a specific high-risk demographic group for targeted educational interventions, factors including daycare attendance, second-hand smoke exposure, recent antibiotic use and presence of wheezing were associated with increased use of cough and cold medications. Children less than a year old, as well as those with a history of hospitalization, were less likely to use these medications.

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