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It's Official: Cold Medicines are Too Risky for Small Children

As has been expected for months, the FDA has issued a warning stating that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are too risky for children under the age of 2. The warning states that "serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur."

Most drug companies have already stopped selling versions of nonprescription cold remedies which are targeted specifically at babies and toddlers. Recent surveys, however, suggest that many parents don't believe OTC remedies can pose a problem, especially if they've given them to an older child without harm.

The FDA has still not decided if OTC decongestants, antihistamines and cough suppressants are appropriate for older children.


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Comment on This Article Community Comments (14)
 
 
Posted On Jan 21, 2008
and what about the adults huh......what is good for the goose is not good for the gander....it's not good for kids but i guess it's o.k for adults.....gimme a break.......just leave the crap right there on the shelves and keep your hard earned cash in your pocket, or better yet my pocket if you gonna go the big pharma route.......

 
seg
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
seg  
 
 
 
Posted On Jan 18, 2008
I guess we are just going to have to wait for the kids to be a little older before we can start getting them addicted to over-the-counter drugs and causing side-effects so there will be a need for prescription drugs to treat the side-effects.

 
foxtroter_203
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 9/2006
foxtroter_203  
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Jan 18, 2008
OTC's, they are NOT for kids, anymore.

 
 
 
Posted On Jan 18, 2008
Why should you use pharmaceuticals at all, there are much better natural remedies out there that if used correctly do not have the side effects of pharmaceuticals, which are 80-90% of the time based on plant compounds.

Mary

 
mmc88121
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 11/2006
mmc88121  
 
 
 
Posted On Jan 21, 2008
So, yesterday, the mother-in-law spouts, "You should give the baby some cough medicine." Since she used to work as a nurse 20 years ago, she thinks she knows what she's talking about.

When I mentioned the FDA warning, my wife too chimed in. They aren't safe for children.

It seems that Mercola has discovered the ultimate remedy: Mother in law silencer. Thanks, JM.


 
Dex
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
Dex  
Replied

New to Natural
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2007
New to Natural  
 
Posted On Jan 21, 2008
God, if that's all it would take for my mother-in-law!  :-) 


 
 
 
Posted On Jan 18, 2008
Strawberry Quick- A slang term used to describe heroin which is  favored in sugary-strawberry  substances to get children hooked to a drug so that unscrupulous people can make money.  These drug dealers don't pay our government their "cut" and therefore risk jail or prison should they get caught.
Cherry flavored cough syrup- A term used to describe a cherry flavored poison to get children hooded to a drug so that unscrupulous people can make money.  These drug dealers pay our government their "cut" and do not risk prison because they are hiding in plain sight .   

 
samurai
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 4/2007
samurai  
Replied

EQ
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 3/2007
EQ  
 
Posted On Jan 21, 2008
"Just a spoon full of sugar..."

Well, in the case of OTCs, it's probably HFCS.


New to Natural
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2007
New to Natural  
 
Posted On Jan 21, 2008
Don't forget "RED 40"


emm76
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 7/2006
emm76  
 
Posted On Jan 22, 2008
If you look at the ingredients of most flavored OTCs, it is not HFCS, they have aspartame or sucralose or acesulfame K in them. 

 
 
 
 
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