Cough syrups containing codeine should not be given to children

Children under 18 should not be given cough syrups containing codeine, drugs regulators have warned, in a further clampdown on over-the-counter drugs. There is no evidence these syrups help children with a cough and the unpredictable side effects of codeine means they should not be used in under 18s, the UK drugs regulator has said.
Read article in the Daily Telegraph (UK)

Cough syrups have killed some children

Child cough syrups removed in overdose scare

Extracts from the Telegraph:

"Six cough syrups for toddlers are being removed from general sale after five children died from overdoses.

The medicines regulator warned that children under the age of two should not be given powerful cough medicines. It ordered that the products be placed behind the counter and sold only under the supervision of a pharmacist until labels can be changed.

Five British children have died since 1981 after parents mistakenly gave them too much syrup or used several products with the same active ingredient, it said.

In addition to the six medicines being removed from general sale immediately, a range of more than 100 other products, not directly aimed at children under two, will have their labels altered.

The new labels will include warnings not to use the medicines for young children and to exercise extreme care when giving them to any child between two and six.

The change, ordered by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, follows similar moves in America where children have died.

Cough Medicines to be taken off the shelves:

The following products are currently licensed for use by children under two. They are to be taken off shelves and sold to parents (with children aged two or over) with appropriate dosage instructions.

Paediatric Cough Relief

Boots Night Time Cough Syrup 1 year plus

Tixylix Catarrh Syrup

Tixycolds Syrup

Bronalin Junior Linctus

Junior Meltus Night Time

Histalix Syrup

Dozal Oral Solution

Fedril Paediatric Elixir

Medised for Children

Kafalin Syrup

Ransoms Paediatric Diphenhydramine Linctus

Line Range Cough Relief For Children Syrup

Calcold

Calpol Night

Benylin Childrens Night Cough

Tixylix Cough and Cold Linctus

Paediatric Nirolex

Childrens Chesty Cough Syrup

Tixylix Chesty Cough Linctus

Optrex Expectorant Liquid 50mg/5ml

Robitussin Chesty Cough Medicine 100mg

Jnr Meltus Chesty Cough With Catarrh

Altons Junior Cough Mixture

Galloway's Cough Expectorant

Liqufruta Garlic Cough Medicine

Cupal Expectorant

Benylin Childrens Chesty Cough

Benylin Childrens Coughs and Colds

Otrivine Child Nasal Drops

Nasal Drops For Children

Iliadin Mini Paediatric

Children's Dry Cough 1 Year Plus

Tixylix Night Cough

Tixylix Dry Cough

Galen Pholcodine Linctus 5mg

Galen Paed Linctus 5mg

Rusco Pholcodine Linctus

Cough Relief For Children

Benylin Childrens Dry Cough

Pinewood Pholcodine Linctus

Crescent Pholcodine Linctus

Pavacol-D

Boots Alternatives Children's Cough Relief

Glycerin Lemon and Honey With Glucose and Ipecacuanha

Glycerin, Lemon and Honey

Glycerin, Lemon and Honey and Ipecac Syrup

Lemeze Cough Syrup

Cherry Cough Mixture

Childrens Blackcurrents Cough Syrup

Buttercup Infant Cough Syrup

Buttercup Syrup Honey and Lemon

Bell's Chesty Cough Compound of Glycerin, Lemon and Ipecacuanha

Glycerin, Lemon and Honey with Glucose and Ipecacuanha

Beehive Balsam

Children's Cough Expectorant

Anglian Pharma Troublesome Coughs

Hill's Balsam Chesty Cough Liquid for Children

Glycerin, Lemon, Honey and Ipecacuanha Linctus

In the news today: honey is better than medicine for children's coughs - and does not have harmful side-effects like drugs may do.

From the Telegraph: - Honey 'is better for children's coughs'

Extract:

"Honey is better at treating children's coughs than an ingredient used in many over-the-counter medicines, according to new research.

A small dose of honey was found to be more effective in cutting both the severity and the frequency of night-time coughing than a widely-used cough suppressant.

Honey also gave children - and their parents - a better night's sleep, the researchers discovered, while Dextromethorphan (DM) which is found in several well-known brands of cough medicine including some types of Benylin and Robitussin, was found to be no better than taking nothing at all.

Honey has been used for centuries to treat coughing and other effects of infections in the upper respiratory system and is known to combat bacteria as well as having a soothing effect.

Dr Ian Paul, associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, who led the research, said: "Our study adds to the growing literature questioning the use of DM in children, but it also offers a legitimate and safe alternative for physicians and parents.

"Additional studies should certainly be considered, but we hope that medical professionals will consider the positive potential of honey as a treatment given the lack of proven efficacy, expense, and potential for adverse effects associated with the use of DM."

The latest research, published in this month's Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, looked at 105 children aged between two and 18 with coughs."

How refreshing it is to read of a doctor advising against drugs! - Children need to be protected from powerful pharmaceutical junk...

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