Health Canada Announcement Regarding Children's Cough and Cold Medicines

Recently, Health Canada announced a decision to require pediatric cough and cold medicines to be relabeled with the statement "Do not use in children under the age of six" and to require all such medicines to be packaged in child resistant containers and provided with accurate dosing devices. These changes are to be made by the Fall of 2009.

In its advisory, Health Canada clearly communicated that existing products on store shelves with labeling for children under the age of six as well as dosing instructions for older children and for adults will continue to be available:

"During the current cough and cold season, medicines will remain on store shelves and in homes with the current labeling, which could include dosing information for children under 6, because many of these products also have dosing information for adults and older children on the same label. As a result, for this cough and cold season, parents or caregivers should consult a pharmacist or a health care practitioner when buying or using these products. These medicines can still be used in children 6 and older, and adults."

Any unwarranted interruption in the availability of these medicines for older children would needlessly limit treatment options for this age group and could add to pharmacist and physician patient workloads. Wyeth Consumer Healthcare Canada is working closely with Health Canada to ensure that relabeled products are available in time for next year's cough and cold season to ensure that all Canadians have the best treatment options available.

Parents and caregivers are reminded that the key to ensuring the continued safe use of these products is to read and follow label directions carefully and, if any questions remain, to consult with a health care professional such as a doctor or pharmacist.