Six major cold medicines for infants are being pulled from store shelves today. You'll recognize the names: Tylenol, Pediacare, Triaminic and others.
The manufacturers say the medicine itself is safe --but children have died or suffered serious injury from taking too much.
But millions of parents do use over-the-counter cold medicines. Pediatrician Dr. Nathaniel Beers insists they're ineffective.
"They may reduce some symptoms for a brief period of time, but they don't have any real efficacy in treating the disease."
Tylenol, Pediacare, Triaminic, Robitussin, Dimetapp and Little Colds all recalled their infant cough and cold medicines after rare reports of children dying or becoming ill from overdose.
C-V-S Pharmacies pulled all of them -- along with their store-brand versions.
Next week, an F-D-A panel will consider whether to change dosing instructions on children's medications.
In a statement late this afternoon, the F-D-A called these recalls an important step in protecting children's health. Back in August, the agency advised parents not to use these medicines at all in children under two unless specifically instructed to do so by a doctor.
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