The Ministry of Health and Environment says several non-prescription cough and cold medicines that are being recalled in the United States of America (U.S.A.) are products which were not approved by the Ministry of Health.
As such, the ministry said they have not been detected on the market.
Some reports of serious, adverse effects associated with the products in the U.S.A. have prompted a review of the ingredients and raised several questions about the safety and effectiveness of the non-prescription cough and cold medicines in children, especially those under two years of age.
The Standards and Regulation Unit of the Ministry of Health said cough and cold preparations containing ingredients such as pseudoephedrine are regulated as "over-the-counter products" and should only be accessed through a pharmacist.
Instructions
The ministry has urged persons to carefully follow their doctors' and pharmacists' instructions regarding product usage and not use cough and cold products for children under two years without consulting a doctor.
The ministry also said persons should always inform their doctors and pharmacists of all the products they are currently using, including those which may be prescribed by another physician or other over-the-counter products.
Manufacturers in the U.S.A. have voluntarily recalled some cough and cold products from the shelves. These include:
Dimetapp Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops Dimetapp Decongestant Infant Drops Little Colds Decongestant Plus Cough Little Colds Multi-symptom Cold Formula Pediacare Infant Drops Decongestant and Cough (with pseudoephedrine) Pediacare Infant Dropper Decongestant Pediacare Infant Dropper Long Acting Cough Pediacare Infant Dropper Decongestant and Cough Robitussin Infant Cough DM Drops Triaminc Infant and Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant Triaminc Infant and Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant Plus Cough Tylenol Concentrated Infants Drops plus Cold Tylenol Concentrated Infants Drops Plus Cold and Cough.
