In 2008, retailers pulled hundreds of children's cough medicines from their shelves following a U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) warning that the medicines may be dangerous to children under the age of 2. The FDA stated that the potential dangers of using cough and cold medications in small children outweigh the benefits. Specifically, giving these medications too often, in doses too high or in conjunction with other medications has caused deaths and serious illnesses in very young children. Following the FDA warning, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association expanded it to include any child under 4 years of age.
Knowing about the ingredients in pediatric cough and cold medication and their potential dangers is key to providing safe and effective care for your child.
Below are the active ingredients in the most common cough and cold medications in the U.S. market.
Expectorants
Expectorants typically contain guaifenesin and relieve chest congestion by loosening mucus. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, guaifenesin does not treat the causes of chest congestion or speed recovery.
Guaifenesin is poisonous if your child takes too much. Many cough and cold medications contain this ingredient, so combining cold medicines poses the risk of overdose.
Decongestants
Decongestants such as phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine are the most common drugs used to treat stuffy noses. They help relieve stuffiness, but they may make your child hyperactive or irritable.
Decongestants work by shrinking the blood vessels in your child's nose, chest and sinuses, allowing the cavities to drain. This constriction affects your child's blood pressure, however, and too much decongestant can slow your child's heartbeat and cause death.
Cough Suppressants
Cough suppressants contain antitussives, such as dextromethorphan (DM), which suppress the cough reflex center in the brain. They are helpful if your child's chest and nasal cavities are draining properly, but her cough is interfering with daily activities and/or sleep. These drugs will suppress your child's cough but will not address its cause or shorten the time he will be sick. Their most common serious side effects are loss of vision, increased heart rate, breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness.
DM came into the public eye because of misuse among teens and young adults and the resulting deaths. Many stores now keep these drugs behind locked doors because of their potential for abuse.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines were first developed to treat allergic reactions. Soon after they became available, people discovered that their side effects--drowsiness and decreased mucus production--also helped treat colds. Antihistamines are frequently labeled as "allergy" or "nighttime" medications. The drugs diphenhydramine, brompheniramine, carbinoxaimine and chlorpheniramine are common antihistamines.
Once you have given your child an antihistamine, expect to wait a full hour before the drug takes effect. The most common side effects of antihistamines in children are nervousness and irritability, although they also can increase your child's heart rate and cause low blood pressure. Use extreme care when giving your child an antihistamine.
Considerations
Pediatric cough and cold medications come in several forms, including liquids, chewables, tablets, dissolving strips, suspensions (which must be shaken prior to use) and cough drops. The amount of medication in each type of dosage is generally the same; only the delivery is different.
Warnings
Never give children tablets that do not dissolve in the mouth or cough drops due to choking hazard.
Always read the label to determine the amount of cough or cold medicine to give a child. If the dosage is not clear, ask your doctor. These ingredients occur in more than one type of medication. To avoid poisoning, never give your child more than one cold or cough medication, unless directed by your doctor.
Medications not labeled for use by children should be given only to adults. Adult cough and cold medicines contain large amounts of the above ingredients and can easily cause serious, even deadly, results.
Check the indications on medication packaging to be aware of potential problems. Consult your physician if you have questions.
Tags: your child, cough cold, cold medications, cough cold medications, most common, blood pressure, chest congestion