Discover the risks of cough syrups for children, the impact of regulations, and safe alternatives in our comprehensive guide. Stay informed and protect your child's health.
- Cough syrups can be ineffective and potentially harmful for children, especially those under the age of six
- Regulations have been enforced to restrict the use of cough syrups in young children and improve labeling for safety
- Alternative options, such as rest, natural remedies, and appropriate medications, should be considered to support children's recovery from coughs and colds





Risks of Cough Syrups: Choosing the Safest Options for Children's Health
Cough syrup's active components differ based on their stated benefit. They may contain cough suppressants (which suppress the body's cough response), expectorants, and mucolytics (both of which aid in the removal of phlegm). Other cold and flu medications frequently contain decongestants (to alleviate a clogged nose) and sedating antihistamines to relieve sneezing, stop a runny nose, and promote sleep. Sedative drugs, such as sedating antihistamines or opioid-based cough suppressants, are the most dangerous. While sedation may be sought by parents with a restless child, young children are especially vulnerable to serious damage or death. Agitation and hyperactivity can also be caused by sedatives.While non-sedative cough syrups are likely safer, there have been few types of research on the safety and efficacy of these medications in children. Adverse effects such as agitation and psychosis have been recorded, particularly with excessive use.
Overuse can occur as a result of parents misreading the label, purposefully using more in the expectation that it would work better, unintended excess doses, or the use of incorrect measuring equipment such as household spoons.
Impact of Cough Syrup Regulations on Children's Health
Cough syrup overdoses are especially dangerous in children under the age of two. However, Australia's drug agency advises against administering cough syrups to children under the age of six. As a result, no dosing recommendations for children under the age of six are provided on the labels of these items.Cough syrups for older children and adults are still accessible. Pharmacists will most likely inquire about the age of the person who will be taking it and advise on dosing and proper use.
Our study, which was published in the Medical Journal of Australia, found that reducing the use of cough and cold drugs in children results in a significant and long-term decrease in poisonings (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines: reported poisonings of children before and after the 2012 and 2020 labelling changes in Australia
Go to source). Dosing errors, adverse events at the right doses, and unintentional "exploratory ingestions," such as when a youngster helps themselves to the medicine cabinet, were all investigated in our study.
The government enforced labeling modifications for several products in 2012 and 2020. Labels for pharmaceutical cough and cold medications could no longer include dosing instructions for children under the age of six, and they had to include extra cautions. Sedating antihistamines were labeled with a warning that they should not be used in children under the age of two for any reason (including allergy and hayfever) in 2020.
Navigating Cough Syrups: Safety, Caution, and Alternative Options
The majority of the harms have been identified in younger children. This is most likely owing to their smaller size, which means it takes fewer drugs to harm, as well as their susceptibility to sedative effects as their brains grow. Cough syrups can be used in children aged six to eleven years, but they must be used with caution. These medications should only be administered after consulting with a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse practitioner.Some herbal products, such as Hedera helix (ivy leaf extract), are available and promoted to children. Unfortunately, there is no clear evidence that these drugs alleviate cough symptoms significantly. However, the risk of poisoning is low. Simple syrups containing no medication can also be effective: the "placebo effect" has been attributed to up to 85% of the effectiveness of cough treatments. This could be because syrups coat the throat and dull the annoying tickling feeling.
Supporting Your Child's Recovery: Rest, Medications, and Natural Remedies
The most important thing you can do for your child is to provide them with rest and reassurance. Antibiotics will be prescribed only if a doctor diagnoses them with acute bacterial pneumonia or a chronic cough caused by a bacterial infection, such as chronic bacterial bronchitis, whooping cough, or a lung abscess.If they have a fever, aches and pains, and a cough, they can take paracetamol or ibuprofen. Check the package for the recommended dosage for your child's weight and age. Consider providing honey to your child if they are beyond the age of 12 months and have a wet cough (generating mucus in their throat). There is mounting evidence that honey helps reduce mucus production and, as a result, coughing.
Reference:
- Over the counter cough and cold medicines: reported poisonings of children before and after the 2012 and 2020 labelling changes in Australia - (https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2023/218/9/over counter cough-and-cold-medicines-reported-poisonings-children-and-after)