MHRA warning about cough and cold medicines in under-sixes
April 10, 2009 by admin
The MHRA has said that a number of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines should no longer be used in children under the age of six (see here for the detailed advice and the list of products affected). The MHRA says that there is no robust evidence that they work and they can cause side effects, such as allergic reactions, effects on sleep or hallucinations. Parents and carers should follow the Department of Health 2007 “Birth to Five” guidance .
For older children, aged six to 12, these medicines will continue to be available, but only through pharmacies, and with clearer advice on the packaging and from pharmacists. Older children should not be given these medicines as first-line treatments and not for more than five days, and the medicines will have stronger warnings on the packaging and labelling.
Comments
Categories
Recent Posts
- Oral penicillin: children’s dosage recommendations
- RCN indemnity changes - further reactions
- No news is bad news on CD changes
- Where is the evidence base: NMP in primary care?
- Medicines for Children website launched
- NRLS to transfer to NHS Trust
- RCN indemnity changes
- Medicines legislation to be consolidated
- ANP annual conference: diversity, change and standards
- CD changes promised by end of October
Tags
- ANP ANP conference Carey N CD children CKS Clinical Knowledge Summaries consultation controlled drugs COPD cosmetic treatments Courtenay Courtenay M CPD dermatology DH diabetes district nurse prescriber generic substitution Home Office independent prescribers Matt Griffiths mental health MeReC MHRA Misuse of Drugs mixing medicines National Prescribing Centre NICE NMC non-medical prescribing NPC NPF NPSA Nurse prescribing Patient Group Directions PGD PGDs Prescribing RCN Royal Pharmaceutical Society Stenner Stenner K supplementary prescribers unlicensed medicines
