Centre bans certain cold medicines for children below 4 years

New Delhi: The Centre has restricted the manufacture, sale and distribution of all fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines containing chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride for children below four years of age.

The government has also advised parents to exercise caution while giving such medicines to young children.

Drug manufacturers have been directed to clearly print a warning on the medicine label, package insert and advertisements stating: “This fixed-dose combination should not be used in children below 4 years of age.”

Doctors have warned that the use of these medicines in young children can cause excessive sleepiness, rapid heartbeat and, in some cases, serious adverse effects.

For children suffering from cold symptoms, doctors have advised parents to consider safer measures such as using saline nasal drops. Honey may also be given to children above one year of age, as advised by doctors.