Health
Panel advises that youngest children not use OTC cold and cough medicines
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 12, 2007
A Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13-9 last month to recommend that numerous nonprescription cold and cough medicines not be used in children younger than 6. But in a 15-7 vote, the panel decided against making the same recommendation for older children.
As the voting was taking place, store shelves were being emptied of some brands of children's cold and cough medicines because of a voluntary recall by manufacturers.
While the FDA generally follows the advice of its panels, it is not clear if the agency has the authority to remove these products, which have long been available without a prescription.
The panel concluded that there was no documented evidence that the cold and cough products actually work and urged that effectiveness studies be conducted.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/11/12/hlbf1112.htm.
