Medicines 'do not work' on children

Published on Saturday 28 February 2009 23:33

PARENTS will be told that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines do not work on children under 12 and can cause side-effects such as hallucinations under new advice issued yesterday.

A review of popular remedies such as Lemsip, Day Nurse and Sudafed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found "no robust evidence that these medicines work" in children.

The MHRA added that the possible side-effects – although not dangerous – could include disturbed sleep, allergic reactions and hallucinations.

In the face of a lack of evidence that the medicines do any good, the agency has ruled that many can no longer be sold for use on children under six.

New, clearer advice will be published on packets for the dosage of children between six and 12, and more research is being done to see what benefits, if any, the medicines have.

Pharmacists will be issued with new advice to give to parents about which medicines can be used safely.

But the MHRA said that parents should not worry if they have used the medicines in the past, and shop shelves will not be cleared of current stocks.

Pain relief preparations and remedies used to lower a child's temperature, such as Calpol, are unaffected by the new rules.

For children under six, the MHRA recommends that parents stick to simple remedies such as keeping a child's temperature down and using honey and lemon mixtures to ease a cough.

MHRA spokesman Jeremy Mead explained that children's physiology differs from adults so that remedies proven to work on an older body cannot be assumed to have the same effect on youngsters.

But the agency has also identified eight medicines that do work and are safe to use on children under six.

These include Beechams Veno's Honey and Lemon, Benylin Tickly Coughs and CalCough TicklyCare Glycerin Lemon & Honey with Glucose, although none should be given to babies under one year old.

The trade body for over-the-counter medicine manufacturers, the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB), said that the affected remedies would no longer be marketed for children.