8 June 2010
Media Release
Sale restrictions on some cough and cold medicines for children under 12
Cough and cold medicines for children under 12 years old will now be sold only in pharmacies except for those containing
ingredients such as honey, lemon and other natural substances.
Medsafe Group Manager Dr Stewart Jessamine said the move means cough and cold medicines containing dextromethorphan,
phenylephrine and ipecacuanha will remain available in supermarkets provided they are re-labelled for use in adults and
children over 12 years old.
However, oral cough and cold medicines that contain ingredients such as glycerol, guaiphenesin, honey, lemon and other
natural substances will remain available in supermarkets for use in children over six years of age. These ingredients
are used to relieve chesty coughs and are currently found in the Vicks and Lemsip range of products available in
supermarkets.
The Medicines Classification Committee and Medsafe had recommended to the Health Minister that the sale of some oral
cough and cold medicines for children under 12 years old be restricted only in pharmacies due to concerns about their
safety and efficacy.
“By reclassifying products containing dextromethorphan, phenylephrine and ipecacuanha as pharmacy-only medicines,
parents will now be able to get professional advice on how to use these medicines safely when they buy these products
for their children,” Dr Jessamine explained.
The safety concerns have triggered similar changes being made or considered by overseas regulators, particularly the
United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Medsafe will be working with pharmaceutical manufacturers to implement the classification and labelling changes, and
re-labelled stocks are expected to become available after winter.
“In the meantime, I would like to advise parents not to use over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under
six years of age,” Dr Jessamine said.
“If a parent is unsure of the best way to treat their child, they should seek advice from their general practitioner or
a healthcare professional.”
ENDS
Background:
• The Medicines Classification Committee is a statutory committee that makes recommendations to the Minister of Health
in respect of the classification of medicines as prescription medicines, restricted medicines or pharmacy-only
medicines.
• The Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe), a business unit of the Ministry of Health, is
responsible for the regulation of therapeutic products in New Zealand.
• Information on the recommendations made by the Cough and Cold Review Group, including questions and answers on
over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, is available on Medsafe's website:
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/alerts/CoughandCold/InfoOct2009asp.
• The minutes of the Medicines Classification Committee's 13 April 2010 meeting, during which the proposed
reclassification of some cough and cold medicines for children under 12 was considered, are available on Medsafe's
website: http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/class/mccMin13April2010.htm.