That people cannot follow simple directions! People think, if I am hung-over, then six Tylenol will make me feel that much better, quicker and therefore think a double squish (dose) of meds for Jr. will not hurt.
I for one, think that baby Tylenol when used as directed is a lifesaver for kids and responsible caregivers when life's substances are hitting the fan.
What do they want us to do when a headache or fever happens? Igonre it, it'll go away? I think not... Take away their Tylenol after a 7 Martini night then ask them what they want!
won't jump up to Children's cold medicine to soothe their kids when they can't find infant? If they are dumb enough to not follow directions or not communicate dosages they would be dumb enough to give children's.
And whoever says the cough medicine doesn't work, they haven't used it only at night to help a child get some much needed rest. During the day, I understand. At night - we all need sleep..... (dont read this in the idea of tranquilizer, I just mean the stopping of coughing)
I thought that the issue wasn't that the cough medicine didn't work, but that it was also slightly harmful. If that's true, we have a "medicine" that does nothing it claims to do, actually harms the child, and no benefits other than drowsiness. Yikes!
if overdosed...like most medicine. Our own pediatrician (who is young and well-informed) agreed that cough medicine is unhelpful for a productive cough during the day but even she recommended a dose at night so he could sleep.
It's the same medicine in the children's dosage....
And yet we still sell cigarettes...which ARE harmful, but you can still smoke those around your kids at home....makes COMPLETE sense to me.
Audrey and I don't medicate much but when we have it DOES work. I don't know how it doesn't. No one seems to make that clear....not that Im asking you to figure that out.
I just love the advice of using the suction device in an infant's nose - that was a wonderful experience when attempted on several occasions.
And the warning label on cigarettes doesn't say, "Don't smoke around your kids because they either become addicted or die of lung cancer, too."
So last week, all fired up and all, I wrote to the Drug arm of the FDA about the possible elimination of cold medicines for infant/children.
Here is what I wrote: To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing regarding the current discussion on the removal of infant
and toddler cold/cough medicine. I am aware that there are concerns of
the placebo effect of this medicine and the ability to overdose.
As a stay-at-home-father, there are a few concerns I have about this
decision:
1) I have used these medicines with my child (with physician approval).
They work. We provide cough medicine at night and there is no more
cough. (During the day we allow the cough to do its job.) Also my
son's nose clears up and we are all able to sleep.
2) Regarding the danger of overdosing. I understand the concern is
there. I read that there were 1500 OD cases last year alone.
However the result of pulling these medicines could result in MORE OD
cases. How many parents in desperation, in order to make their children (or
themselves) feel better will give the child "children's" cold medicine.
They will attempt to reduce the dosage for an infant/toddler, and be
VERY wrong.
Also the majority of us who do not have a problem administering
medicine to our children should not be penalized.
3) Finally, I know that this may be seen as irrelevant, but in this
country, assuming all recommendations are followed by the FDA, parents
will not be able to legally make their children feel better. However if
you choose to smoke in your car, house, or children's bedroom while they
are sick we are allowed to do so. That seems absurd on its face, I
know. If you are going to begin controlling how parents take care of their
kids then it's the FDA's responsibility to step in at all levels.
[b]Joshua Eisenberg Chicago, IL
Here was their response: Dear Joshua,
Thank you for writing the Division of Drug Information, in the FDA's
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
The FDA has not requested that manufacturers of cough/cold medicines for
infants/toddlers remove their products from the market.
A citizen petition was submitted to FDA on March 1, 2007, that raised
concerns about the safety and efficacy of cough and cold products in
children under 6 years of age. The petition requested among other things that FDA amend the OTC drug monograph for Cold, Cough, Allergy,
Bronchodilator, and Antiasthmatic Drug Products in 21 CFR Part 341 to
require that labeling for OTC antitussive, expectorant, nasal
decongestant, antihistamine, and combination cough and cold products
state that these products have not been found to be safe or effective in children under 6 years of age for the treatment of cough and cold. The
petitioner went on to state that these products should not be used for
the treatment of cough and cold in children under 6 years of age and
requested that the agency notify manufacturers of these products whose labeling either uses such terms as ``infant'' or ``baby'' or displays
images of children under the age of 6, that such marketing is not
supported by scientific evidence and that manufacturers will be subject
to enforcement action at any time.
A public meeting was held on October 18-19, 2007 to discuss the safety
and efficacy of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products marketed
for pediatric use. The meeting notice is posted and the meeting minutes
will be posted soon at: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/cder07.htm#NonprescriptionDrugs
Please visit www.fda.gov/cder for any updates on this important issue.
[i]Drug Information CC Division of Drug Information Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration
I think what they meant was, the FDA hasn't asked the manufacturers, yet. I love using tags, btw.
It is pretty cool you took time to write the FDA, well said btw. Cooler yet, they responded!
I did not read all those dang.pdf's linked again from in the provided linked response. However, I did scan the Citizen Petition and it just sounds like to me that a couple public citizens did not get the desired response from the meds (correct dosage?) and found some sympathetic politicians as a staging platform. As they say, “you can’t make everybody happy all the time” and we are seeing it run its course here. I will continue to use these meds until they provide black and white evidence they don’t work or is harmful.Or they take them away, which I highly doubt will happen!
Tags, we don’t like them, but we use them!
It's Sad
That people cannot follow simple directions! People think, if I am hung-over, then six Tylenol will make me feel that much better, quicker and therefore think a double squish (dose) of meds for Jr. will not hurt.
I for one, think that baby Tylenol when used as directed is a lifesaver for kids and responsible caregivers when life's substances are hitting the fan.
What do they want us to do when a headache or fever happens? Igonre it, it'll go away? I think not...
Take away their Tylenol after a 7 Martini night then ask them what they want!
My Site, http://www.milehidad.com/ and my Blog, http://www.milehighdad.net/
Make Babies, Not War!
I Wanna Know How forever Feels...
actually...
Actually, taking Tylenol when drinking is highly dangerous.
I'm Not a Slacker
Tell me that people....
won't jump up to Children's cold medicine to soothe their kids when they can't find infant? If they are dumb enough to not follow directions or not communicate dosages they would be dumb enough to give children's.
And whoever says the cough medicine doesn't work, they haven't used it only at night to help a child get some much needed rest. During the day, I understand. At night - we all need sleep..... (dont read this in the idea of tranquilizer, I just mean the stopping of coughing)
Josh
SAHD Since August 2005
I thought that the issue
I thought that the issue wasn't that the cough medicine didn't work, but that it was also slightly harmful. If that's true, we have a "medicine" that does nothing it claims to do, actually harms the child, and no benefits other than drowsiness. Yikes!
Sticky Situation, Is It Just Masking Or Is It Healing?
It is going to be interesting how this irons out.
My Site, http://www.milehidad.com/ and my Blog, http://www.milehighdad.net/
Make Babies, Not War!
I Wanna Know How Forever Feels...
Harmful
if overdosed...like most medicine. Our own pediatrician (who is young and well-informed) agreed that cough medicine is unhelpful for a productive cough during the day but even she recommended a dose at night so he could sleep.
It's the same medicine in the children's dosage....
And yet we still sell cigarettes...which ARE harmful, but you can still smoke those around your kids at home....makes COMPLETE sense to me.
Josh
SAHD Since August 2005
Well, at least the
Well, at least the cigarettes have warning labels.
It's a sad day when medicine for toddlers and infants require a label that says "Doesn't actually work at all."
But that's the thing
Audrey and I don't medicate much but when we have it DOES work. I don't know how it doesn't. No one seems to make that clear....not that Im asking you to figure that out.
I just love the advice of using the suction device in an infant's nose - that was a wonderful experience when attempted on several occasions.
And the warning label on cigarettes doesn't say, "Don't smoke around your kids because they either become addicted or die of lung cancer, too."
Josh
SAHD Since August 2005
Attn Josh
Forget the cough syrup and cigarettes Josh. Have you considered the effect jackhammers could be having on your kid?
http://haha.nu/misc/mother-of-the-year/
FDA/OCER
So last week, all fired up and all, I wrote to the Drug arm of the FDA about the possible elimination of cold medicines for infant/children.
Here is what I wrote:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing regarding the current discussion on the removal of infant
and toddler cold/cough medicine. I am aware that there are concerns of
the placebo effect of this medicine and the ability to overdose.
As a stay-at-home-father, there are a few concerns I have about this
decision:
1) I have used these medicines with my child (with physician approval).
They work. We provide cough medicine at night and there is no more
cough. (During the day we allow the cough to do its job.) Also my
son's nose clears up and we are all able to sleep.
2) Regarding the danger of overdosing. I understand the concern is
there. I read that there were 1500 OD cases last year alone.
However the result of pulling these medicines could result in MORE OD
cases.
How many parents in desperation, in order to make their children (or
themselves) feel better will give the child "children's" cold medicine.
They will attempt to reduce the dosage for an infant/toddler, and be
VERY wrong.
Also the majority of us who do not have a problem administering
medicine to our children should not be penalized.
3) Finally, I know that this may be seen as irrelevant, but in this
country, assuming all recommendations are followed by the FDA, parents
will not be able to legally make their children feel better. However if
you choose to smoke in your car, house, or children's bedroom while they
are sick we are allowed to do so. That seems absurd on its face, I
know.
If you are going to begin controlling how parents take care of their
kids then it's the FDA's responsibility to step in at all levels.
[b]Joshua Eisenberg
Chicago, IL
Here was their response:
Dear Joshua,
Thank you for writing the Division of Drug Information, in the FDA's
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
The FDA has not requested that manufacturers of cough/cold medicines for
infants/toddlers remove their products from the market.
A citizen petition was submitted to FDA on March 1, 2007, that raised
concerns about the safety and efficacy of cough and cold products in
children under 6 years of age. The petition requested among other things
that FDA amend the OTC drug monograph for Cold, Cough, Allergy,
Bronchodilator, and Antiasthmatic Drug Products in 21 CFR Part 341 to
require that labeling for OTC antitussive, expectorant, nasal
decongestant, antihistamine, and combination cough and cold products
state that these products have not been found to be safe or effective in
children under 6 years of age for the treatment of cough and cold. The
petitioner went on to state that these products should not be used for
the treatment of cough and cold in children under 6 years of age and
requested that the agency notify manufacturers of these products whose
labeling either uses such terms as ``infant'' or ``baby'' or displays
images of children under the age of 6, that such marketing is not
supported by scientific evidence and that manufacturers will be subject
to enforcement action at any time.
The petition is at the following Web site:
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/07p0074/07p0074.htm
A public meeting was held on October 18-19, 2007 to discuss the safety
and efficacy of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products marketed
for pediatric use. The meeting notice is posted and the meeting minutes
will be posted soon at:
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/cder07.htm#NonprescriptionDrugs
Please visit www.fda.gov/cder for any updates on this important issue.
[i]Drug Information CC
Division of Drug Information
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Food and Drug Administration
I think what they meant was, the FDA hasn't asked the manufacturers, yet. I love using tags, btw.
Josh
SAHD Since August 2005
See comment above
Double posting...see above
More info can be found at
More info can be found at NPR's Driveway Moments podcast here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15366147
Right On
It is pretty cool you took time to write the FDA, well said btw. Cooler yet, they responded!
I did not read all those dang.pdf's linked again from in the provided linked response. However, I did scan the Citizen Petition and it just sounds like to me that a couple public citizens did not get the desired response from the meds (correct dosage?) and found some sympathetic politicians as a staging platform. As they say, “you can’t make everybody happy all the time” and we are seeing it run its course here.
I will continue to use these meds until they provide black and white evidence they don’t work or is harmful. Or they take them away, which I highly doubt will happen!
Tags, we don’t like them, but we use them!
My Site, http://www.milehidad.com/ and my Blog, http://www.milehighdad.net/
Make Babies, Not War!
I Wanna Know How Forever Feels...