Personal Injury Law

FDA Publicizes OTC Drug Dangers to Children

Children?s OTC cold medication was the subject of the FDA?s public warning issued yesterday, a subject that has been awaiting strong censure for many years. The FDA report states

?Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products should not be used to treat infants and children less than 2 years of age because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur from such use.?

That serious side effects can occur from nonprescription medications given to young children has been known for years. Unfortunately, the FDA has been dragging its feet, despite reported toddler and infant deaths from drug medications readily available over-the-counter.

FDA officials are remain undecided on an issue that first gained momentum last year when it announced it would review the drug safety (whether dangerous drug side effects outweighed drug efficacy) data for children ages 2-11.

October 2006, many children?s OTC drug companies quit selling their medicines marketing specifically to infants after FDA reports showed that the drugs are ineffectivein children under age 6 and are unnecessarily dangerous.

Yesterday?s advisory is the first time the U.S. government has released a direct statement on the drug dangers posed to children with a strong recommendation that parents not give children under 2 these drugs.

If your child or loved one has suffered a dangerous drug injury, contact HHP today for a free consultation with me or another Tennessee drug injury attorney.

Full post as published by Tennessee Law Blog on January 18, 2008 (boomark / email).