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Sleep News Blog

Prescription Sleep Medicine

Revealed - The Real Truth About Cold Medicines and What You Can Do to Protect Your Child

Posted by sleepyguy in Prescription Sleep Medicine, Sleep Disorder on May 05th, 2009

In the course of researching the topic of swine flu, I came across this article and thought it would be appropriate to include it.

When our kids are suffering with a cold, it’s pretty common for parents to reach for the over-the-counter bottle of cough syrup or cold medications. But recently both the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued guidelines regarding cold and cough medications that may surprise you.

The MHRA issued an advisory announcing that cough and cold medications do not work on children ages 6 to 12. In fact, the MHRA advisory went on to note that such medicines may even cause harmful side effects, such as trouble sleeping and hallucinations.

Similarly, the U.S. FDA issued a new guideline recommending that children age 2 and under no longer be given cold and cough medicines because they are not effective and they may cause dangerous side effects.

What should parents do instead? Of course, be sure to consult with a physician to make sure something more serious than the common cold isn’t at work. Then, consider some natural remedies to help a sick child feel better:

- Chicken soup. Yes, it’s a cliche, but this remedy seems to have some validity. Studies have shown that chicken soup can actually help ease the symptoms of respiratory-tract infections.

- Try treating a cough with honey. My mother would love this, as she typically treated a cough with this home remedy. And studies support that it’s actually more effective than over-the-counter medicines. Try mixing it with a little warm water or non-caffeinated herbal tea. NOTE: Be sure never to give honey to a child under the age of one year old, as babies face a risk of botulism from consuming honey.

- Use saline nose drops or sprays. This is a natural remedy and alternative to medications and can help open up blocked nasal passages.

- Use a cool-mist humidifier. By increasing the humidity in the child’s room, this can also help alleviate congestion and help the child breathe easier.

- Plenty of rest. Again, a bit of a cliche but true. A child with a well-rested body is better able to fight off an illness. You can even encourage a sick child to rest by darkening the room, giving a back rub, even playing some soothing music in the background.