FDA to take up to 500 cold medicines off the market

Image via WikipediaFDA to take up to 500 cold medicines off the market

The FDA announced on March 1, 2011 that it would now investigate over 500 cold and cough medications, and that for any that do not work, the manufacturer would have 90 days to stop making it and 180 days to stop shipping it, according to a report in the Washington Post FDA today.  http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2011/03/fda_cracks_down_on_unapproved.html

A list of drugs that will be investigated can be seen at http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/SelectedEnforcementActionsonUnapprovedDrugs/ucm238675.htm#cough

This development continues a clear trend that we have been communicating to families since 1985, now over 

25 years ago- that the cold and cough remedies simply do not work, and that no good reason exists to give your child a medicine that does not work.

As these drugs come under increasing scrutiny, we look forward to two steps being taken:

1.  That all families stop using the cold and cough remedies currently on the market.

2.   That scientists find interventions that really do help people who have colds and coughs.

Dr. Arthur Lavin

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