FDA Warns About Children's Usage of Cough Medicine

With school starting again, and the cold and flu season that always follows the mingling of children, I thought it might be important to highlight this recent news from the FDA regarding the usage of over the counter cold medications.

The FDA recently put out a warning about use of cough medicine in children . Receiving too great a dose can cause potentially serious side effects, particularly in those under the age of 2.

Parents should carefully follow directions for use that come with a medication, the FDA said. Other recommendations in the advisory included:

1. Do not use cough and cold products in children under 2 unless given specific directions to do so by a health care provider.
2. Do not give children medicine that is packaged and made for adults. Use only products marked for use in babies, infants or children, sometimes called "pediatric" use.
3. Cough and cold medicines come in different strengths. If unsure about the right product for a child, ask a health care provider.
4. If other medicines, whether over-the-counter or prescription, are being given to a child, the child's health care provider should review and approve their combined use.
5. Read all of the information in the "Drug Facts" box on the package label to know the active ingredients and the warnings.
6. For liquid products, parents should use the measuring device that is packaged with each medicine formulation and is marked to deliver the recommended dose. A kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon is not an appropriate measuring device.

I'll also add my own warning here to double check your prescription medications as well. Make sure you are getting the correct formula that was written on the prescription. I've had pharmacists make several mistakes on my kids' medications, some could have been deadly. Be sure you give the correct dosage on any medication and check with your pediatrician if you have any doubts or questions.