In Light of Voluntary Recall of Infant Cold Medicines, UCSF's Soller Comments on Safety and Efficacy

Several drug companies have voluntarily pulled cold medicines for infants and children from the shelf due to FDA warnings of accidental overdose. The FDA will meet next week to examine the safety and effectiveness of these cold remedies labeled appropriate for babies and young children. "The efficacy data, and the safety data is really not there for the 2 to 6-year-old and the 6 to 12-year-old; Industry hasn't studied this," said William Soller, PhD, executive director of the UCSF Center for Consumer Self Care and Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Pharmacy at UCSF. "We shouldn't presume efficacy and safety. This should be demonstrated by good clinical evidence by industry." Related Links: Tom Vacar Reports on Voluntary Recall of Infant Cold Medicines KTVU-TV (FOX), October 11, 2007 Voluntary Recall in Effect for Children's Cold Medicines KRON-TV, October 11, 2007 Drug Makers Pull Infant Cold Medications KGO-TV (ABC), October 11, 2007 New Leader for Center for Consumer Self Care at UCSF UCSF News Release, November 7, 2003 Center for Consumer Self Care UCSF School of Pharmacy