Parents~how much money do you spend on cold and cough medicines for your children?

Question

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines do not work on children under 12 and can even cause side effects like hallucinations, parents will be told......

A review of remedies like Lemsip powders, Day Nurse and Sudafed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) found "no robust evidence that these medicines work" in kids.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Cough-And-Cold-Medicines-Do-Not-Work-Children-Under-12s-Says-MHRA/Article/200903115231732?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15231732_Cough_And_Cold_Medicines_Do_Not_Work_Children_Under_12s%2C_Says_MHRA

I'm rather concerned, as a mum of four I have spent a lot over the years on some of these products, with the intention that they do as described, ease symptoms and relieve the child's illness. So if this report and the scientific fact are correct how can parents be lied to by these pharmaceutical companies?

What are you views?

Answer 1

It's a bit different for me because of my son's illness, if he has a cough I can't give him cough medicine as it would dry up the mucus in his lungs and he wouldn't be able to cough it up, he's not allowed to have it. He would give a cough swab or sputum sample to the hospital for them to see what bacteria is growing there and give him the right antibiotics for it. If he has a cold he might have some paracetamol but that's it and if it goes into his chest then he could end up in hospital. It's scary though when you here about stuff like that about products you think are safe.

Answer 2

The pharma companies are all about one thing and one thing only...$$$$. I bet a lot of them wouldn't give to their children the drugs that they produce. Another important thing to consider is that they all have the FDA in their pocket. They pay the FDA to discourage use of natural remedies. Look at the statement that any herbal company has to post on their products...not intended to cure or prevent any disease, blah, blah, blah. Then every once in a while they issue a statement about vitamins or herbs or anything natural having no effect whatsoever. They issued a report not too long ago that vitamin C supplements are useless and do nothing. That's nonsense. The pharma companies must be paying them off so people get sick and then they can sell more drugs. I swear by the Airborne product but I understand they are being sued by the Feds for false claims. I used to get a cold at least once or twice a year. Ever since I moved to south Florida my colds were always very bad and I couldn't get rid of them without it turning into bronchitis or pnemonia and that requires antibiotics. Taking antibiotics every time you get sick is very bad because it weakens your immune system. Your body becomes dependent on the antibiotic instead of fighting the virus on it's own. Now at the first sign of a sore throat I take Airborne and I swear to God I haven't had a cold in YEARS. Just about everything can be cured natuarally without drugs. Sure medications have their place but they should only be used if nothing else does. But then the pharma company profits would tank. It's ALL ABOUT $$$$$$$$$. Sad but true.

Answer 3

I have only ever bought the cold medicines for my children, i stopped buying the cough medicines ages ago after i realised my self that they didn't work, there was never any difference in my child's cough when they took the medicine. To be honest i didn't think much of the cold medicines either but i still bought them hoping they would help my children, i remember a time when my child had such a bad cold my husband got a taxi to our nearest chemist over 40 min drive away just to buy the medicine which in total including the taxi fare cost over £35 just to buy one bottle and now i am told it didn't work anyway, i couldn't even begin to count how much we have spent on these medicines and how much we have spent just to get to our nearest chemist to buy them.

I can not believe they admit the medicine was never tested on children either, i mean apart from the fact they didn't know if it would work, how did they know if it was even safe to give to children in the first place!

Answer 4

It must be a worry for mums who don't know about the old fashioned remedies handed down from grannies, the only over the counter medicine I gave my boys was Calpol, for coughs I sliced onions and layered the slices with brown sugar, left it to stand for 12 hours and the liquid that it created was a fantastic suppressant.



PS Suppressing in so much as to allow a distressed child the comfort of sleep

Answer 5

I only ever gave my children paracetamol when they were little, if they had a sore throat I would make them honey and lemon. I have always thought that over the counter cough and cold remedies are just a prop to make parents feel that they are doing their best. If they were really poorly I took them to the doctors. Now they are older they deal with things themselves, the older one only asks for advice on how to shift a self inflicted headache bless!

Answer 6

Here in Spain over the counter cough and cold medicines for children do not exist.



All children are assigned a paediatrician rather than a general practitioner and without prescription you may give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen but NEVER anything else.



As for cough medicines for children my son´s doctor could not believe that British doctors still prescribed them. Here if children are suffering from any chest related condition they will be monitored but they will never, ever be given anything to suppress a cough. Apparently that´s dangerous.

Answer 7

Nothing can cure a cough or a cold - only give relief - and a doc told me if you are coughing your coughing for a reason eg) to shift something or to clear your tubes etc so it's best not to suppress a cough.



I have only even given my son pain relief and if he needed it vapour stuff on his pillow (Karvol) or steamed him in the bathroom.



I am not big on taking stuff myself anyway - the odd painkiller but I don't use cold remedies or cough mixture either - prefer to have a hot toddy lol ;0)

Answer 8

Well, putting aside the obvious and appropriate comments others have made, I'd say the child is actually a victim of psychological child abuse because he/she has always been made to feel inferior to his/her siblings and in turn, it will cause lifelong feelings of low self esteem, low self confidence and overall rejection. Personally I suggest you discuss this with Children's Services and get their opinion.

Answer 9

nothing-i give calpol for pain and fever but would never waste cash on so called cough remedies. I dont believe any of them have much use and the same goes for the adult stuff

Answer 10

Parents should save their money and move to warmer clim's, i haven't had a cold i six years that speaks for itself....Living in a damp over-crowded environment such as Britain can't be healthy.

Answer 11

Well all we do is give the kids Paracetamol all the rest do is give relief, there is no known cure for colds.

Answer 12

THESE PEOPLE SELLING THESE MEDICINES HAVE MADE A FORTUNE FROM US , they should be sued for false advertising