Children’s Cold Medicine: Safety Information

When your kids get a cold, you probably wonder which cold medicine is the safest. Because children have special needs when it comes to cold medicines, here's some safety information to consider when your child catches a cold.

Are cold medicines safe for kids?

In October 2007, an FDA advisory panel recommended that no cold or cough medicines be given to children under six. The cold and cough medicines in question include:

• cough suppressants (dextromethorphan or DM)
• cough expectorants ( guaifenesin)
• decongestants (pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine)
• antihistamines (such as brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine [ Benadryl] and others)

Evidence indicates that these cold medicines don't really help, and they post a small risk of serious side effects. While millions of children have taken cold medicines without any trouble, the expert panel is concerned about reports between 1969 and 2006 of 60 children under age 6 dying from decongestants or antihistamines.

Given that there's no evidence that kids' cold medicines help children, some consider any risk - no matter how slight - to be unacceptably high.

Drug manufacturers have now agreed to stop marketing kids' cold medicines to parents with children under age 2. But cold medicines are still available for kids older than two. The FDA is currently evaluating the recommendations of the advisory panel.

Is it safe to give my child cold medicine?

Kids' cold medicines may still be on the shelves at your drugstore while the FDA evaluates the recommendations from the expert panel. Many experts say that parents should stop using any kids' cold medicine for children under age 6 unless their doctors recommend it.

In addition, the FDA recommends the following safety guidelines:

• Always read the package label and follow directions carefully.
• Don't use cough or cold medicines in children under 2 years old unless you receive specific directions to do so from your child's doctor.
• Never increase the dose of a medicine or give the medicine more frequently than is stated on the package. Too much medicine can cause serious and life-threatening side effects.
• Do not give adult medicines to kids. Children should only take products marked for use in babies, infants, or children (sometimes called "pediatric" use).
• Ask your child's doctor if you are unsure about the right medicine for your child. Cough and cold medicines come in many different strengths.
• Tell your child's doctor about any other medicines (OTC or prescription) that are being given to your child. This is so that your child's doctor can review and approve their combined use.
• Always use the measuring device (dropper, dosing cup, or dosing spoon) that is packaged with the child's medicine. (A kitchen teaspoon is not an appropriate measuring device for giving medicines to children.)

Shouldn't you treat cold symptoms in kids?

Treating cold symptoms is not necessary and might not be safe for some kids. Most colds run their course within 5 to 10 days -  with or without treatment. In addition, there are no studies supporting the use of antihistamines, cough suppressants, decongestants, vitamins and minerals, herbs, or antibiotics for the treatment of kids' colds. Also, when you suppress a cough, this may worsen the symptoms by making it difficult for your child to cough up the thick mucus.