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Posted: 4:31 PM Oct 3, 2008
How to Read FDA’s Non-Ruling on Kids’ Cold Meds
Now that the FDA is postponing its ruling on whether cold medicines are safe and effective for kids ages two to six, what’s a parent to do when their child gets a cough? A local pediatrician weighs in on the risks parents take when they give their kids cold medicines, as well as some safe solutions to stop the sniffles.
Reporter: Jonalee MerkelEmail Address: jmerkel@wsaw.com |
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When you pick up medicine for your child, you expect it to work.
You expect it to cure whatever symptoms your child is experiencing because you assume trials, tests and studies have been done on the medication to ensure that. But when the FDA set standards for cold medications 30 years ago, they didn’t do separate studies on children.
Instead, adult medications were repackaged in different forms and lower doses.
Unfortunately, that’s resulted in some kids experiencing side effects and others overdoses.
"As a physician, you can be put in a position with some of these that you have to give another medicine to counteract the first medicine and we really hate doing that,” said Dr. Larry Gordon, a pediatrician at the Aspirus Weston Clinic. “We'd rather just not give the first medicine."
Instead, for a sniffly nose Dr. Gordon says try a cool mist humidifier to clear things up. For a sore throat he recommends offering your child a piece of hard candy. For any aches or fevers he says Tylenol or Ibuprofen are still ok. Of course, lots of rest and plenty of fluids are always helpful too when it comes to ditching a cold.
Earlier this year, the FDA recommended over the counter medicines not be given to children under 2. There’s still no indication of when the group will decide whether to make the same recommendation for children ages two to six.
Aspirus Health Beat 7 helps you make better health care decisions with news about the latest medical breakthroughs, research and technology. Tune in for information about exciting new care options you and your family can access right here in central Wisconsin through Aspirus doctors, services and the Wausau Hospital.
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