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Parents have been reassured there is no cause for alarm after six cough and cold remedies for young children were removed from the shelves.
The medicines, specifically marketed for use by children under two years old, have been pulled from sale amid fears that children could suffer accidental overdoses.
At the same time, the labels of dozens of other cough and cold remedies are being changed after new advice from drug safety watchdogs.
The Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB), which represents the makers of the medicines, stressed that they were not “banned” for use by older children and are still safe when used as directed.
PAGB executive director Sheila Kelly said the action was being taken voluntarily because of advice from the Commission on Human Medicines that the doses for children under two years old should be removed.
“Parents should not be concerned that they have harmed their children in any way if they have given them cold remedies in the past,” she said.
“Many of the products have been on the market for over 40 years – they are safe when used as recommended and can still be used for children over two.”
Parents have been advised to give children aged less than 24 months paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower their temperature.
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Proprietary Association of Great Britain
