Other safety alerts
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| Canada: Health Canada reminds parents not to give cough and cold medication to children under 6 years old |
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Health Canada is reminding Canadians that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under the age of 6. Cough and cold medicines include the following ingredients:
• Antihistamines in cough and cold medicines (used to treat sneezing, runny nose): brompheniramine maleate, chlorpheniramine maleate, clemastine hydrogen fumerate, dexbrompheniramine maleate, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, diphenylpyraline hydrochloride, doxylamine succinate, pheniramine maleate, phenyltoloxamine citrate, promethazine hydrochloride, pyrilamine maleate, triprolidine hydrochloride
• Antitussives (used to treat cough): dextromethorphan, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, diphenhydramine hydrochloride
• Expectorants (used to loosen mucus): guaifenesin (glyceryl guaiacolate)
• Decongestants (used to treat congestion): ephedrine hydrochloride/sulphate, phenylephrine hydrochloride/sulphate, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride/sulphate
In 2009, Health Canada conducted a review and determined over-the-counter cough and cold products in children have not been shown to be effective. In addition, serious harm, including misuse, overdose and side-effects may occur in children under 6 years of age when using over-the-counter cough and cold products, although the risk of such serious harm is low. Despite recommendations and labelling on these products, recent reports indicate that children under 6 are still being given cough and cold medications by parents or caregivers.
Health Canada reminds parents and caregivers of the following:
• Do not use over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children under 6.
• Always check the label first to make sure the medication is suitable for their child.
• Do not give children medications labelled only for adults.
• Do not give children aged 6 and up more than one kind of cough and cold medicine (unless under the advice of a healthcare practitioner). Combining medicines with the same ingredient(s) may cause side effects.
• Talk to their health care practitioner (e.g. doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc.) if they have any questions about using cough and cold medicines in children. These professionals can also help make sure there are no interactions with other health products their child may be taking.
• A cold is not the same as the flu. Cold medications are not effective against the flu.
Please refer to the following website in Health Canada for details:
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/../57622a-eng.php
In Hong Kong, cough and cold medicines are registered pharmaceutical products. So far, the Department of Health (DH) has received four adverse drug reaction cases in connection with cough and cold medicines containing the above ingredients, and one of the cases was related to a 9 month old baby girl. In April 2009, the Registration Committee of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board decided that labels and package inserts of cough and cold medicines should not contain dosage instructions or other references to their use by children under 6 years of age. DH will remain vigilant on the safety of cough and cold medicines.
Ends/ Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:00
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