1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Pediatrics
photo of Vincent Iannelli, M.D.

Pediatrics Blog

By Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com Guide to Pediatrics since 2001

More Infant Cold Medicines Recalled

Friday October 12, 2007
As expected, even more infant cough and cold medicines have been voluntarily recalled, including:
  • Dimetapp Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops
  • Dimetapp Decongestant Infant Drops
  • Little Colds Decongestant Plus Cough
  • Little Colds Multi-Symptom Cold Formula
  • Robitussin Infant Cough DM Drops
  • Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant
  • Triaminic Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant Plus Cough
Remember that there is not necessarily anything wrong with these medications. Instead, we are seeng a crackdown on cough and cold medicines targeted at babies and infants. These medicines have never had appropriate dosages on their packaging, making it possible to give your child too much if you were simply guessing at a dose.

Related: Health Alert - Cold Medicines | Infant Cold Medicine Recall

Comments

October 12, 2007 at 11:41 pm
(1) Pam says:

What a statement this article makes. “These medicines have never had appropriate dosages on their packaging, making it possible to give your child too much if you were simply guessing at a dose” So they recall several products removing them from the shelves because someone might give too much to their child; anyone can give too much anything to their child - common sense says don’t guess at the dose. I’m sure more parents will be guessing at the dose of children’s/adults cough syrups instead - guessing on how much or how little - to give their infants instead since a suitable infant product will no longer exist. (and how can one even “guess” at the dose on a Triaminic Thin Strip - it’s a strip!!!!)

October 14, 2007 at 11:28 am
(2) Vincent Iannelli, MD says:

“and how can one even “guess” at the dose on a Triaminic Thin Strip ”

When Triaminic used to release Professional Dosing Guidelines, they had a dose of 1/2 a strip for one of their Infant Strip medications for younger children…

October 15, 2007 at 11:02 am
(3) Jcampbell says:

I am really annoyed by this recall… I use the triaminic thinstrips for my two year old daughter - she is small for her age so she gets one strip… they were great - no spilled medicine, I knew she got her full dose there was no way she could open on eof those packages… the other thin strip that didn’t get pulle dit for ages 6 and up - guess what a six year old kid can take their medicine without making a mess - most two year olds don’t!! I think this sucks - I am hoping they take the word infant of the package and just market it as toddelers!!

If a parent ODs their kid on drugs, then it is the parents fault - not the drug maker, you can od your kid on any medication- ibuprofren and acetamenophin, it doesn’t make the drug bad just the stupid parent!

October 22, 2007 at 3:39 pm
(4) cary says:

I agree that removing the medicine is a little overkill. Parents should be more careful and competent when it comes to giving their children medication. At most, they should have changed the label.

November 3, 2007 at 2:06 am
(5) Melyssa says:

This is incredibley foolish. If a parent has a question on a correct dosage for there infant or child they should call there pedi and get that info, an irresponsible parent would take risk at guessing. The product is great if not abused, like any other product on the market, i think they should just correct the dosing chart from months and put them back on the shelves.

December 29, 2007 at 2:31 am
(6) Zena Kubricht says:

This isn’t going to work! Because the bad parents are just going to go to the doctor to get more meds to overdose their kids on. Until you take the kids away from the stupid people the problems will continue.
Upset with a sick baby,
Zena

January 31, 2008 at 10:17 pm
(7) Dr. Prater says:

Wow! I’m surprised at the outrage. The dosing and safety of these medications was never determined in children under 6!!! That’s why they were recalled! It’s not that parents can’t tell the dosage, it’s that the manufacturer and FDA don’t even know the appropriate dosage. Also these medications are ineffective, as the FDA has stated after reviewing the clinical data, a point that was raised 20 years ago but was only recently acted on. Be grateful they pulled them to sort it all out instead of being upset that a little convenience has been lost. Give your kids a little chicken soup, turn on the humidifier, keep them comfortable, and let the illness pass.

February 7, 2008 at 1:20 pm
(8) April says:

Tired of trying everything and visiting the doctor endless times, one day somebody gave me a thyme cream and a spray called eucasol for my children’s constant cold and flu. For me was a turning point for all this OTC hassle. I couldn’t believe a natural product could be so effective without having to guess dosage or worry about secondary effects. I would highly recommend to anyone with children.

Leave a Comment

Line and paragraph breaks are automatic. Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title="">, <b>, <i>, <strike>

Explore Pediatrics

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Pediatrics

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.