Drug Topics - April 21, 2008 - (Page 5)

5 Of Interest to Pharmacists tion of adult data for children can be problematic due to side effects of the medication.” In fact, Paul does not recommend any cough and cold meds for kids under 12. Instead, he suggests “Tylenol or Motrin for pain relief, saline nose drops, humidified air, and adequate hydration.” Having led extensive research on the efficacy of cough suppressants in children, Paul reminded pharmacists, “Studies have found dextromethorphan to be no better than placebo.” Additionally, he believes antihistamines show extremely weak evidence for treatment of cough and cold symptoms, although these drugs can be used in kids experiencing anaphylaxis and allergic rhinitis. However, if parents feel they need to give their child something for cold symptoms, in his recently published and widely publicized Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine study, Paul found an item often found in the kitchen pantry—buckwheat honey. He said honey “was superior to dextromethorphan in all outcomes” for suppressing cough in children, perhaps by coating and soothing the irritated throat. Ultimately, when it comes to efficacy of OTC cough and cold products, more studies will be needed to determine safety and efficacy in tots, which could take two to three years. For now, William Wood, R.Ph., a pharmacist with Giant Eagle Pharmacy in Brentwood, Pa., noted, “Parents can feel helpless when their child is sick, but it’s important to avoid giving children unnecessary medication.” Wood added that parents should contact their pediatrician if their kids present with high fever and any discoloration in their nasal discharge. Until more data on cough and cold medication use in children become available, the FDA is being urged by patient advocacy groups to mandate standardizing dosing unit terminology to reduce confusion that may contribute to product dosing errors. Others are lobbying for prominent display of generic name and strength of all ingredients, warnings about the use of these drugs in children, and mandatory dosing devices included in product packaging.   is assistant professor, department of pharmacology, at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. MEGAN BARNES is obtaining her Pharm.D. degree from Duquesne University. AVANI PATEL is completing his Pharm.D. degree at University of Pittsburgh. http://www.watson.com

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Drug Topics - April 21, 2008 Contents The 20 Drug Firms Par Excellence in 2007 Treating Kids with Cough and Cold: Filling the Void Promoting Medication Safety: A Community Outreach Event Scholarship Helps Students Get Into Pharmacy New Products Latest News Roundup

Drug Topics - April 21, 2008

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