A voluntary recall of cough and cold medicines for infants was recently announced, coincidentally during the time when people are more susceptible to getting the flu. According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the recent recall affects infants and not children two years or older. The CHPA noted a rare pattern of misuse leading to overdose in infants.


Dr. Edmund Schroeder from the Pacific Medical Group told KUAM News, "Attention to dosage is very important. When you're staying within the recommended doses, it hasn't been a problem...the main ingredient in these is not really in antihistamine, but it's kind of a stimulant, so rapid heartbeat, and irregular heartbeat could be parts of that."


The branded medicines being taken off the shelves include Dimetapp Decongestant Cough Infant Drops, Little Colds Decongestant Plus Cough and Multi-Symptom Cold Formula, Pediacare Infant Decongestant Drops Decongestant, Robitussin Infant Cough Drops, Triaminic Infant and Toddler Then Strips Decongestant, and Tylenol Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold and Cough, just to name a few. "One other thing that's a big thing on other children's medication," continued Dr. Schroeder, "Is that dosages are based closely on weight. A lot of the over-the-counter medication will have an age guideline. If your baby is below average for weight, which could lead to a big overdose."


The CHPA is recommending that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration strengthen labors for these medicines from "Ask A Doctor" before using to "Do Not Use" in children under two years. So what should parents do if they're in possession of these medications? "Any parents who have these things on the shelves, should throw them away so you won't forget, said Dr. Schroeder.