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CCF Season Options after FDA Questions Children's Meds
Newtown Square, Pa., Nov. 14, 2007—Many parents are wondering how to help their young children throughout cough, cold and flu season after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) questioned both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines for use in children.
In late November, the FDA's Pediatric Advisory Committee voted to change labeling on two prescription flu medications, Tamiflu and Relenza, due to questionable adverse effects.
Earlier this season, an advisory panel convened by the FDA recommended that the agency not allow many common wintertime OTC medicines to be given to children younger than 6 years of age.
The panel of health experts examined the benefits and risks associated with suppressants, decongestants and antihistamines in children, and decided it was “uncomfortable” that the benefits of these ingredients for children were estimated based on using a fraction of doses shown to benefit adults. The hearing came in response to a petition that raised concerns over overdosing, citing confusion with directions or accidently giving the same ingredient when administering multiple products.
“This is because of variations in metabolism and in weight in this age group,” explains Dr. Lauren Feder, M.D., author of Natural Baby and Childcare (Hatherleigh Press, 2006) who recommends parents try homeopathic medicines since they do not contain any of the ingredients questioned for use in youngsters.
Generally considered one of the safest choices for self-treatment, homeopathic medicines are made of micro-doses of natural ingredients. They have been regulated by the FDA as a drug since 1938, and they are not body-mass dependent.
“They work in a different way,” says Dr. Feder, whose Los Angeles general practice consists primarily of children, about homeopathic medicines. “A cough suppressant works against the body. But a homeopathic cough syrup like Children’s Chestal acts as an expectorant, helping the body do what it does best to help itself,” she continues. “Nor is it dangerous to combine homeopathic medicines with other substances in case parents decided to administer a cold medicine on top of cough syrup.”
For years, Dr. Feder has recommended Oscillococcinum, one of the best-selling homeopathic medicines in the U.S. With a safety record of 65 years, Oscillo should be taken at the first sign of flu-like symptoms. Supported by clinical studies, Oscillo has no reported side effects. Its tasty melt-away pellets are safe for ages 2 to 102.
To take quick action, parents can conveniently pick up this family medicine on shelves nationwide in most drug stores, supermarkets, health food stores and mass merchandisers in the adult section. The average retail price for the popular 6-dose is $12.99. Consumers can visit the new www.Oscillo.com Web site for a coupon or to find the nearest store that carries Oscillo.
Other Boiron homeopathic medicines, such as Children’s Chestal (part of the Boiron line of best selling homeopathic cough syrup) and Coldcalm, can be found primarily in health food stores and independent pharmacies nationwide.
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