 Benadryl ... one of the cough syrups now available only by prescription. |
- Liquid cough medicines only available with prescription
- Side-effects include convulsions, rapid heart rate
- Lack of evidence the medicines actually work
INFANT cough and cold syrups will be available only on prescription after a government committee ruled them potentially dangerous and not proven to work.
Under changes announced today, parents will be able to buy well-known liquid cough medicines like Dimetapp and Benadryl for children under two only with a prescription.
The National Drugs and Poisons Scheduling Committee (NDPSC) decided to reschedule the drugs in the wake of reports of side-effects such as convulsions and rapid heart rates and even death in the US and UK.
The Australian committee said there was little evidence of increased illness and death among young Australian children because very little data was collected.
But experts were persuaded to make the change when combining the possible risk with the lack of evidence that the medicines actually worked.
"Members agreed that the risks associated with the use of these products in children under two years of age might outweigh any potential benefit from their use," the committee said.
There were also fears parents may be using the drugs incorrectly, it said.
"It might be for some parents that sedation per se was the reason they sought to use these drugs, rather than the conditions which the products are actually indicated for."
The Australian Self-Medication Industry, which represents companies selling over-the-counter medicines, told the medical website Pharma in Focus, the industry was not surprised by the ruling.
"We expected this was going to happen," scientific director Deon Schoombie said.
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