Cough and cold products for children

Health Canada hasrecently announced a decision that will require manufacturers to modify the labelling on certain cough and cold medications for children. Until this relabelling takes place, your pharmacist recommends the following:

• Do not give a child under six years of age cough and cold products.
• Do not give a child products labelled for use in adults, even if you lower the dose.
• Do not give a child between the ages of 6 and 12 more than one cough and cold product at a time. Ingesting products containing the same ingredient or ingredients can lead to side effects.
• If your child does not improve within 6 to 10 days or if symptoms get worse, see your doctor.

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS

If I can no longer administer these medicines to my child, what can I do to ease his symptoms?

There are a variety of non-medicinal measures to temporarily alleviate coughing and other cold symptoms. Here are the main ones:

• Encourage your child to get adequate rest; 
• Make sure he drinks plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and to keep his throat from getting dry;
• Prepare a comfortable environment with adequate humidity.

Cough and cold symptoms normally disappear within 6 to 10 days. If they don’t or if they get worse, see your doctor.

Cough and cold medications help my child. Why should I stop using them?

It is important to note that these medicines do not cure coughs and colds. They only temporarily relieve symptoms (i.e. nasal congestion, cough, etc.). By following the above suggestions, your child should improve just the same.

Which medications are involved in the Health Canada announcement?

The majority of over-the-counter cough and cold medications for children. Talk to your pharmacist for further details.

Why have Health Canada and my health practitioners changed their opinions of these products?

Health Canada brought together a group of experts to discuss the safety and therapeutic qualities of pediatric cough and cold products. This group recently concluded that there was no evidence demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of these medicines for children under the age of six. Efficacy among children 6 to 12 has yet to be shown.

Health professionals previously understood the limitations of these medicines and advised parents to use them with care. The conclusions of the panel mandated by Health Canada has led the regulatory body to change its recommendations regarding the use of these products.

Can I safely administer these products to my seven-year old?

If you follow the instructions (especially not combining different medications and respecting the dosing information indicated on the label), cough and cold products are considered safe for children between the ages of 6 and 12. As previously mentioned, however, it is important to remember that they do not cure coughs and cold, but only temporarily ease symptoms. Non-medicinal measures can deliver the same results.

What should I do with the medications I already have?

If you have cough and cold products for children under six, you can bring them back to the pharmacy. The pharmacist will ensure their safe disposal. It is important not to discard them down the toilet or in the garbage.

Can I rely on the labels of cough and cold products currently sold?

Manufacturers of these medicines are required to relabel their products by fall 2009. Before that date, labels may feature dosing instructions for children under six years of age. Regardless of the information on the label, do not administer these products to children under the age of six.

Why are certain medications effective for adults but not for children?

Children are not mini-adults. Their bodies function differently than those of adults. As a result, it cannot be assumed that the same product – in smaller doses – will have the same effect in children and adults. That is why cough and cold medications for adults should never be given to children.

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