The FDA issued public health advisory about children’s cold medicines. FDA stated children under 2 years of age should not be given any kind of cough and cold product that contains a decongestant or antihistamine because serious and possibly life-threatening side effects could occur. Reported side effects of these products included convulsions, rapid heart rates and death. When giving cough and cold medicine to children over 2 years of age, parents and caregivers should use caution.
During 2004-2005, an estimated 1,519 children less than 2 years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments for adverse events, including overdoses, associated with cough and cold medications. Manufacturers voluntarily removed over-the-counter (OTC) infant cough and cold products intended for children under 2 years of age due to these safety concerns.
Which kids’ cold medicines should be avoided:
- Cough suppressants (DXM or DM (dextromethorphan)
- Cough expectorants (guaifenesin)
- Decongestants (pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine)
- Antihistamines (brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine maleate and diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) was a decongestant that was removed from the market in 2000 and should be avoided.
- Codeine and hydrocodone are ingredients in prescription cold medicines and may cause drowsiness. Although once commonly used, the FDA also warned about using them in kids too “because of the potential for serious side effects, including slowed or difficult breathing.”
You might not recognize these drugs by name, but they are the active ingredients in many brands of kids’ cold and cough medicines commonly available in drugstores.
Treating Toddlers and Older Children;
Children under 2 years of age should not be given any kind of cough and cold product that contains a decongestant or antihistamine
When giving children 4 years of age and older a cough and cold product, remember, OTC cough and cold products can be harmful if:
- more than the recommended amount is used
- they are given too often
- more than one product containing the same drug is being used.
- Children should not be given medicines that are packaged and made for adults.
Parents need to be aware that many OTC cough and cold products contain multiple ingredients which can lead to accidental overdosing. Reading the drug facts label can help parents learn about what drugs (active ingredients) are in a product.
Other Options for Treating Colds:
Here are a few alternative treatments for infants to help with cough and cold symptoms:
- A cool mist humidifier helps nasal passages shrink and allow easier breathing. Do not use warm mist humidifiers. They can cause nasal passages to swell and make breathing more difficult
- Call the child’s doctor right away if he is three months of age or younger at the first sign of an illness.
- Saline nose drops or spray keep nasal passages moist and helps avoid stuffiness
- Nasal suctioning with a bulb syringe — with or without saline nose drops — works very well for infants less than a year old. Older children often resist the use of a bulb syringe
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to reduce fever, aches and pains. Parents should carefully read and follow the product’s instructions for use on the Drug Facts label
- Drinking plenty of liquids will help children stay hydrated.
Common brands of children’s cold medicines include:
- Dimetapp
- Little Remedies / Little Colds
- Mucinex
- Pediacare
- Robitussin
- Sudafed
- Triaminic
- Tylenol
- Vicks
Acetaminophen in Children’s Cold Medicines
Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and is often used to reduce fever and relieve pain in children.
Surprisingly to some parents, acetaminophen can also be an ingredient in some cold medicines, which can lead them to double up on this ingredient and accidentally overdose their child if they aren’t careful about checking the list of active ingredients.
Acetaminophen can be found in many children’s cold medicines including:
- Children’s Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold & Fever Liquid
- Triaminic Multi-Symptom Fever
- Triaminic Cough & Sore Throat
- PediaCare Children Cough and Runny Nose plus Acetaminophen
- PediaCare Children Flu Plus Acetaminophen
- NyQuil Cold/Flu Relief
- Robitussin Severe Multi-Symptom Cough-Cold + Flu Nighttime
- Theraflu Day & Nighttime Severe Cold & Cough Relief Tea Packets
So remember to not also give your child an extra dose Acetaminophen with any of these types of products.
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