Total recall
You know things are bad when even mainstream doctors are begging the FDA for a drug recall. That's what happened last month when pediatricians spoke out about children's cold medicines. They claim that the current FDA warning not to give these medications to children under the age of two doesn't cut it, and they're asking that the agency recall all over-the-counter cold medications for kids younger than six. Here in Baltimore, our health commissioner is on board with the pediatricians' request. In fact, he made one of the most candid and admirable remarks I've heard from a mainstream physician when he told the Baltimore Sun that "parents should know that there is less evidence than ever to support the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for young children. There is nothing that is holding the FDA back from asking for a voluntary recall..." Well, almost nothing... Apparently, these over-the-counter "remedies" are a $286 million cash cow for the drug industry each year. So despite the fact that statistics estimate that cough and cold medicines are implicated in around 7,000 trips made by children to the emergency room annually, the FDA-with the ever-present dollar signs in its eyes-claims that "OTC medicines have been used for decades in treating kids' colds and are safe for those older than two." But even the drug manufacturers aren't quite convinced: They've got studies underway to test their products. Smart move, considering the FDA set its safety standards for these medications without ever conducting separate studies for children. For once, I'm going to tell you to side with the mainstream on this one: Don't give your kids or grandkids over-the-counter cold or cough medicine. If they need a little extra relief while waiting for the cold to clear up on its own, Dr. Wright wrote about his top cold-relieving remedies-safe, natural ones-in the October 2007 issue of Nutrition & Healing. Subscribers can download it for free by visiting www.wrightnewsletter.com and logging in to the Archives with the username and password listed on page 8 of your most recent issue. Source:
"FDA urged to recall cold medicines for youngsters," The Baltimore Sun (www.baltimoresun.com) 10/2/08 | 
