Pediatricians seeking to reduce the use of cold and cough medicines given to infants and toddlers have told federal health advisers that the over-the-counter medicines work no better than dummy pills and shouldn't be given to children younger than 6 because they aren't safe.
Beginning Thursday, a panel of experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began a two-day meeting to consider the issue. While the FDA does not have to follow a panel's recommendation, it usually does.
According to the FDA safety review, decongestants and antihistamines have been linked with 123 pediatric deaths since 1969.
Meanwhile, the drug manufacturers have maintained that the widely used children's medicines are safe and work but can lead to death and injury from overdoses or misuse in infants.
Thursday's meeting opened a week after drug makers pulled from sale oral cough and cold medicines for children under 2. The labels on those medicines had recommended parents "ask a doctor" before giving them to children that young, the AP reports.
While the focus of the meeting is on children under 6, the joint panel of experts will be asked if there's evidence that these drugs work in children up to age 12.
