Over the Counter Drugs Bad for Children Under Age 2

Amy Schauers

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The FDA is issuing a parental warning today. It warns parents to avoid over the counter cold medicine for children under the age of two. They say that these drugs may be harmful and cause serious and potentially life threatening side effects. The concern is that parents may purchase over the counter cold medications for their older children and then give them to their toddlers.

Ganley cited surveys that suggest many parents don't believe over-the-counter cold remedies pose a problem, especially if they've used them with an older child who seemed to get better.

In October the FDA announced that over the counter drugs specifically targeted to small children don't work and shouldn't be given to anyone under age 6. All medications for children under age 6 were pulled from store shelves.