What's up Doc: Cough and cold medicine 101

  • Published
  • By Maj. (Dr.) Amy Parker
  • 47th Medical Group
LAUGHLIN AFB, Texas --  "Which cold medicine do you recommend for Johnny's cough?" 

This is a tough question, not because there are so many effective cough and cold medicines on the shelf at the local drug store but rather because there are so many cough and cold medicines that just don't work! 

Well-designed clinical studies have shown that the usual over-the-counter cold medications are no more effective than placebo (a placebo is a drug that contains no medication) in reducing cough and other cold symptoms in the pediatric population. These types of medications can be especially dangerous in young children. 

When over-the-counter cough and cold medications are studied by the Food and Drug Administration, children less than 2 years of age are not included. Thus, there are no accurate dosing guidelines for these medications in young children, in spite of the labeling instructing you to "consult a doctor" for dosing information.

In addition, many of these formulations contain multiple medications, which is especially dangerous when mixing over-the-counter products. If you are already using one type of over-the-counter combination cough and cold medication, do not use another one with it.
A recent article published by the Centers for Disease Control cited over 1500 cases where children under 2 years of age were treated in emergency departments for adverse events associated with these drugs and described 3 cases in which infants died as a result. The bottom line is use over-the-counter cough and cold medicines with great caution: few studies support their effectiveness, no established dosing guidelines in young children, and risks of toxicity. 

Most cold symptoms are a result of a viral infection, typically last 7-10 days, and will self-resolve without any medication at all. If symptoms are especially severe or if they last 2 weeks or longer, make an appointment with your doctor. 

For more info check http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#coughcold