The makers of 14 popular cough and cold medicines for infants are voluntarily pulling their products from store shelves after several reports of children overdosing.
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, or CHPA, says misuse is driving the voluntary withdrawal, not product safety.
The products being pulled from shelves are only "infant" oral medicines and are not those intended and labeled for use by children two and older.
"It’s important to point out that these medicines are safe and effective when used as directed, and most parents are using them appropriately. The reason the makers of over-the-counter, oral cough and cold medicines for infants are voluntarily withdrawing these medicines is that there have been rare patterns of misuse leading to overdose recently identified, particularly in infants, and safety is our top priority," said Linda A. Suydam, D.P.A, who is president of CHPA
Fort Myers Pediatrician Dr. Irwin Kash says that he's thrilled about the recall saying that the over-the-counter medicines are worthless anyway.
"Put it down the sink, flush it down the toilet, maybe your lawn can use it," said Dr. Kash who added that he's long been telling parents that the best way to treat a child suffering from a cold is to just wait it out.
Thursday's government issued warning includes the following children's medications:
Dimetapp® Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops
Dimetapp® Decongestant Infant Drops
Little Colds® Decongestant Plus Cough
Little Colds® Multi-Symptom Cold Formula
PEDIACARE® Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine)
PEDIACARE® Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough (containing pseudoephedrine)
PEDIACARE® Infant Dropper Decongestant (containing phenylephrine)
PEDIACARE® Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough
PEDIACARE® Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough (containing phenylephrine)
Robitussin® Infant Cough DM Drops
Triaminic® Infant & Toddler Thin Strips® Decongestant
Triaminic® Infant & Toddler Thin Strips® Decongestant Plus Cough
TYLENOL® Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold
TYLENOL® Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough
The CHPA and its member companies say they have put forth recommendations to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to strengthen the labels on all oral over the counter children's cough and cold medicines from "ask a doctor" before using to "do not use" in children under two years old.
