Infant cold medicines pulled for overdose risk

My ped does recommend plain robitussin for congestion NOT the ones that have DM or any other combo but the one with just Guaifenesin,. Here is the product label I got from Robitussin's website. Return to Congestion Index Drug Facts Active ingredients (in each 5 mL tsp) Purpose Guaifenesin, USP 100 mg Expectorant Uses


This is the only ingredient that our ped said was safe for children under 2 and even younger kids. Ask your ped their advice. But, depending on weight, your ped should be able to provide you the correct dosage. This was helpful for our daughter when she had a cold and no side effects.

You may want to see if you can go to the store you bought the Robitussin cold mention the voluntary withdrawal and ask if you can get the plain robitussin instead. Btw, I bought plain Robitussin at CVS when they were having the sale/ECB deal the other week. So, I know they have it!


Have you also tried the usual recommendations of saline nasal spray/suction, humidifier, baby vicks, propping the mattress?

Hope this helps. It is hard when your child is an infant and can not take really any meds without side effects. Our ped also provided us with dosage for the Claritin Children's syrup, again based on weight, for my DD (she's 3 but tiny). The dr doesn't want to put her on prescription antihistamines and this seems to help with all the pollens are horrible this time of year in Central TX.

Hope I could help you some!

Originally Posted by crabtree122202 I'm totally confussed. My daughter (9 mos.) is getting Robitussin cold right now. It is "pediatric" but does not have a dosing for under 2 years of age. So I was just taking the smallest dose and giving her half. (she has never had an ear infection or my other two toddlers ever) I don't see any problem with this and I'm probably going to get flamed for it but... A 2 year old is not an infant. So many "infant" meds say do not use on children under two. Then what in the world are babies supost to get when their sick? My daughter has been extremely congested for a couple days and the Robitussin actually works awesome and keeps her clear so she can sleep without waking because she can't breath. But as for this recall, what are they going to change? The label saying not to use it on children under two? What will that change? They still need to have something for infants to use. I do also having a dosing chart for pain relivers but it does not include cold meds. Most drug compainies weren't comfortable saying these meds could even be used on infants so this information wasnt included. So what should I do with my sick little girl? (please only advise, I'm not debating)

[blonditz]

Originally Posted by austinmomto2 Can someone rep, Mrs P, for me. I have given out too much rep in the last 24 hrs!

I rep'd her for you.

[lynvet5]

So what do we do now that cold season is popping up? Are they doing it just to scare parents and make sure they learn how to dose the meds properly or will you now have to get something from your doc. only?

Austinmom,
Yes, you did help me! Thanks! But I can't return what I bought since it isn't the infant kind so it's not part of the recall. But I will check and see about getting the plain decongestant. I'll have to find it though, we don't have a CVS here and I don't think WG sells it since that is where I just bought this other stuff and I don't remember seeing any others.

Does anyone know if the store versions of these are recalled as well? We have severel Equate cold meds.?

I bought it in the past from WAG-could also ask the pharmacist there where they keep the plain and generic robitussin.


I am betting the store versions will also be recalled at some point. A lot of times the store versions are manufactured by the main medicine makers so i would assume they would be part of the voluntary withdrawal as well since they include the same ingredients.

Originally Posted by crabtree122202 Austinmom, Yes, you did help me! Thanks! But I can't return what I bought since it isn't the infant kind so it's not part of the recall. But I will check and see about getting the plain decongestant. I'll have to find it though, we don't have a CVS here and I don't think WG sells it since that is where I just bought this other stuff and I don't remember seeing any others. Does anyone know if the store versions of these are recalled as well? We have severel Equate cold meds.?

[kkokeefe]

I don't think I saw this listed already, sorry if it is a repost. On the tylenol website at the bottom of their statement is a link to a coupon for $5 off any tylenol, motrin, pediacare, benadryl, sudafed, st. joseph or imodium product. I was able to print 2 of these.
Tylenol.com — News About Children’s Cold Medicines

[MrsPinecone]

Children under two are not supposed to get ANY form of decongestant. It usually does not help and can be harmful-- think heart palpitations, etc.

Colds should be treated with nasal saline drops, the snot sucker (aka nasal aspirator), humidity and, if over 3 months, Vicks Baby Rub. Johnson's Vapor Cream can be used if over 6 months.

This is not really a recall. My original title stated that it is a VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL of these meds.

Mrs P,
Thanks for the clarification that it is not a recall but a withdrawal.

FYI:
The Guaifenesin in plain Robitussin and generic forms is NOT a decongestant but an expectorant. Which is why our ped states that it is safe to use in children under 2. It just helps the congestion become more productive. However, every ped is different so my recommendation is to consult your child/ren's ped and see what they recommend.

Originally Posted by MrsPinecone Children under two are not supposed to get ANY form of decongestant. It usually does not help and can be harmful-- think heart palpitations, etc. Colds should be treated with nasal saline drops, the snot sucker (aka nasal aspirator), humidity and, if over 3 months, Vicks Baby Rub. Johnson's Vapor Cream can be used if over 6 months. This is not really a recall. My original title stated that it is a VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL of these meds.

[SaraW]

I just bought a ton of this last week at CVS. Yikes!!!

Originally Posted by SaraW I just bought a ton of this last week at CVS. Yikes!!!

It is not harmful if you give the recomended dosages. The problem is that a lot of people, especialy those that do not speek or read english can not tell the diffrence between the "childrens" and the "infants" meds. Infants are highly concentrated so the dosage is so much less the the childrens dosage. And it is really easy to overdose if you are not paying attention to the little dropper.

Back a year or so ago a doctor explained to one childs parents how to give and how much to give of the "childrens" tylonol to their child. Instead of the parents giving "childrens" they gave "infants" at a much higher dosage. At the end the child died because his kidneys gave out from all the meds. So they are sueing Tylonol. This vonentary thing could be a result of the trial or discovery findings.

As far as decongestiant go. They should not be given to infants. The purpose of it is to dry up the buggers and snot right? Well the tubes that conect the babies ears to their nose get pluged up because they are so tiny, with the snot and buggers that get thick and nasty because of the decongestant (decongestant drys out the nose and sinuses. THat is why they tell you to drink lots of water). This causes ear infections. And they could be terrable ones if you continue to use decongestant because there is no place or way for the infection to leave the area causing more puss and may eventualy leading to tubes.:frown: