Ban Sought On Kids' Cold Medicine

The New York Times today reported that FDA safety experts urged consideration of an outright ban on over-the-counter, multisymptom cough and cold medicines for kids younger than 6. Gardiner Harris wrote, "[t]he reviewers wrote that there is little evidence that these medicines are effective in young children, and there are increasing fears that they may be dangerous[,]" and cited the experts' 356-page safety review report disclosures of at least 54 kids having died after taking decongestants and at least 69 having died after taking antihistamines. On the other side of the safety issue is, of course, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association armed with its industry-sponsored safety review. Anyway, here's the link to the article.