From ITN 1st March 09

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found “no robust evidence” that popular remedies such as Lemsip powders, Day Nurse and Sudafed work when given to youngsters.

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

Many can no longer be sold for use on children under six and pharmacists will be issued with new advice to give to parents about which medicines can be used safely.

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 parents stick to simple remedies like keeping their child’s temperature down and simple honey and lemon mixtures to ease a cough.

However, the agency identified a list of eight medicines that do work and are safe to use on children under six. They include Beechams Veno’s Honey and Lemon, Benylin Tickly Coughs and CalCough TicklyCare Glycerin Lemon & Honey with Glucose.

None should be given to babies under one year old.

Director of Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines at the MHRA, Dr June Raine, said: “Coughs and colds can be distressing for both you and your child but they will get better by themselves within a few days. Using simple measures to ease symptoms is likely to be most effective.

“Over-the-counter medicines used to treat coughs and colds have been used for many years. However they came into use when clinical trials were not required to demonstrate that they worked in children. This means they were not specially designed for children.

“It is not right to assume safety and efficacy based on children being ‘small adults’. Children should have access to medicines that are acceptably safe and designed for their use.”

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

Sarah’s comment. Although they say that some cough medicines are fine, I would strongly reccommed looking at the ingredients of all foods and drugs that we put into our kids. Some cough medicines have extreamely high levels of sugar, and flavourings which we wouldn’t normally find acceptable.  All medicines have some side affects…..keep a watch out.