News tagged with 'Cold Medications'

Expect a round of positive PR even though McNeil's Fort Washington, Pennsylvania manufacturing plant remains closed and the source and type of contaminant of childrens over-the-counter cold and allergy meds remains a mystery.

Tylenol is removing 21 children's products from store shelves because of a bacterial contamination found in some of the inactive ingredients. None of the finished product reportedly has the bacteria, but check the lot numbers and return it for a new product.

Drs. Margaret Hamburg and Joshua Sharfstein, both Harvard Medical School grads, have been chosen by President Obama to be the commissioner and deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.  They still must face confirmation hearings.

Manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) pediatric cough and cold medicines are voluntarily transitioning the labeling to state “do not use in children four years of age and under." Medications baring new warning labels will begin appearing in pharmacies and stores immediately, although, experts are still debating at what age they may be safe and effective.

The FDA held hearings today on whether children's medications for colds and cough should remain over-the-counter, and at what doseage. Physicians remain divided with many saying they should be recalled and made available by prescription only because they are untested.  

Should there be a placebo pill to quiet an ill child? There is now.  A Maryland mother has founded a placebo pill company and soon parents will be able to quiet children into sleep by giving them a fake pill. But what are the ethical considerations?