Cold medicine review after UK deaths

The Ministry of Health will check the availability of cold and flu remedies said to have harmed or killed several British youngsters. Photo / Herald file

Health officials are to review guidelines on cough and cold medicines for children after UK authorities ordered warning labels for more than 60 products, which have been linked to dozens of deaths.

Britain's Telegraph newspaper yesterday reported more than 60 over-the-counter medicines would be marked with warnings that they must not be given to children under 6, and are not recommended for those under 12.

Many of the medicines have been specifically labelled as being suitable for children.

The move comes after dozens of British youngsters who took the medicines died and others suffered hallucinations and allergic reactions.

In New Zealand, Medsafe group manager Stewart Jessamine said Medsafe currently advised parents not to give cough and cold medicines to children under two, but those guidelines would be reviewed.

Warning labels with the current guidelines would begin to appear on cough and cold products in New Zealand this month, he said.

"Medsafe says its current advice stands, but it will be seeking reports on which the latest decisions were made and reviewing them to see if a similar approach is warranted here," he said.

There had been "very few" reports of adverse reactions from such medicines in New Zealand but the National Poisons Centre had received a number of calls about overdoses in children under two, he said.

Children over that should only be given cough and cold remedies if strictly necessary, he said.

"There is no cure for the common cold. Children will usually recover from coughs and colds in time on their own."

Health Ministry spokesman Michael Flyger yesterday told the Herald drug authority Medsafe "will consider the advice from the UK and work quickly to consider whether similar moves are required here in New Zealand".

The first step would be to ascertain exactly which products are available in New Zealand, he said.

The British warnings cover a range of ingredients: the nasal decongestants pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, oxymetazoline and xylometazoline; the antihistamines diphenhydramine, chlorphenamine, bromopheniramine, promethazine, triprolidine and doxylamine; the cough suppressants dextromethorphan and pholcodine and the expectorants guaifenesin and ipecacuanha.

The Telegraph said reports had shown that when cases involving people of all ages were taken into consideration, dozens had died after taking medication containing the ingredients.

Meanwhile, more than 3000 had reported "adverse reactions". Diphenhydramine, which is used in Benylin Children's Coughs and Colds, was mentioned in reports of 27 deaths, while chlorphenamine, an ingredient in Tixylix Cough and Cold, was mentioned in reports of 11 deaths.

The British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said a review of 69 cough and cold remedies for children had "found no robust evidence that these medicines work" and gave warning that "they can cause side-effects, such as allergic reactions, effects on sleep or hallucinations".

Today, New Zealand Paediatrician Innes Asher said research showed the medicines were "no better than just having a bit of sugary water".

"I think it's fair to say that paediatricians are uneasy about the widespread use of these medications and very rarely prescribe them."

"There's a body of evidence now to show that the medications on the whole are ineffective and given that they also may have side effects I think there's certainly a very strong case for reviewing how we make these available for young children," she told Radio New Zealand.

Prof Asher said she recommended parents take the "supportive approach" with frequent fluids including warm lemon and honey drinks.

Cough and cold medicines were not effective and a waste of money, she said.

"We'll certainly be expecting them (Medsafe) to actively review this and the approach to take."

* On the British warning list

6 Benylin products including Chesty Coughs and Benylin 4 Flu

5 Vicks products including Cold & Flu Care Daymed Capsules and Cold & Flu care Medinite Complete Syrup

4 Lemsip products including Max Cold & Flu and Max Sinus Capsules

3 Tixylix products: Cough and Cold, Chesty Cough and Night Cough