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Prescriber Update Articles

Cough and cold medicines clarification - antihistamines

Web site: February 2010
Prescriber Update 2010;31(1):6

Healthcare professionals will recall that in 2009 the Cough and Cold Review Group (CCRG) recommended that oral cough and cold medicines, with the exception of those containing only bromhexine, be contraindicated in children under six years of age.¹

Since publishing the CCRG’s recommendations Medsafe has received several queries about the use of antihistamines in children. To clear up any confusion, healthcare professionals are advised the following:

• The CCRG concluded that there was no evidence to support the efficacy of antihistamines in treating the symptoms of the common cold in children. As the risk-benefit balance is unfavourable, medicines containing antihistamines should not be used in children under six years of age for this indication.
• The use of antihistamines in children for the treatment of allergic conditions was not considered by the CCRG and is therefore not affected by the recommendations of the CCRG.

The CCRG also recommended that the classification of cough and cold medicines be reviewed. A submission has been prepared for the Medicines Classification Committee (MCC) meeting in April 2010. A consultation period prior to this meeting provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the submissions. The agenda and submissions for this meeting are expected to be published on the Medsafe website in February 2010; comments should be directed to the MCC Secretary.

Further information on the medicines classification process is available at:
www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/classificationprocess.asp#process

A list of the cough and cold medicines that are affected by the recommendations of the CCRG is available at:
www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/alerts/CoughandCold/AffectedMedicinesOct2009.asp

References

1. Medsafe.  2009.  Cough and cold medicines – further contraindication recommended. Prescriber Update. 30(4): 26.