Warning over cold remedies for kids

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines do not work on children under 12 and can even cause side effects, a review has found.

The
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found "no
robust evidence" that popular remedies such as Lemsip powders, Day
Nurse and Sudafed work when given to youngsters.

The
MHRA added that the possible side effects - although not dangerous -
could include sleep disturbance, allergic reactions and hallucinations.

Many
can no longer be sold for use on children under six and pharmacists
will be issued with new advice to give to parents about which medicines
can be used safely.

Pain relief preparations and remedies used to lower a child's temperature, such as Calpol, are unaffected by the new rules.

For
children under six, the MHRA recommends parents stick to simple
remedies like keeping their child's temperature down and simple honey
and lemon mixtures to ease a cough.

However,
the agency identified a list of eight medicines that do work and are
safe to use on children under six. They include Beechams Veno's Honey
and Lemon, Benylin Tickly Coughs and CalCough TicklyCare Glycerin Lemon
& Honey with Glucose.

None should be given to babies under one year old.

Director
of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines at the MHRA, Dr June
Raine, said: "Coughs and colds can be distressing for both you and your
child but they will get better by themselves within a few days. Using
simple measures to ease symptoms is likely to be most effective.

"Over-the-counter
medicines used to treat coughs and colds have been used for many years.
However they came into use when clinical trials were not required to
demonstrate that they worked in children. This means they were not
specially designed for children.

"It is not
right to assume safety and efficacy based on children being 'small
adults'. Children should have access to medicines that are acceptably
safe and designed for their use."

The MHRA said
parents should not worry if they have used the medicines in the past
and shop shelves will not be cleared of current stocks.

Most of that crap is worthless anyway and a waste of money.

its a waste of money all the crap they sell