Label updates of oral OTC children’s cough and cold medicines

Statement from CHPA on the Voluntary Label Updates to Oral OTC Children?s Cough and Cold Medicines – The following statement was issued by Linda Suydam, president of Consumer Healthcare Products Association, USA, on the Voluntary Label Updates to Oral OTC Children’s Cough and Cold Medicines.

Gene found responsible for smoking habit

If your first cigarette gave you a buzz and you now smoke, a gene may be to blame; Link between initial smoking pleasure, lifetime smoking habits and variation in nicotine receptor gene found by U-M-led team. – Anyone who has ever tried smoking probably remembers that first cigarette vividly. For some, it brought a wave of nausea or a nasty coughing fit. For others, those first puffs also came with a rush of pleasure or “buzz.”

Parents use cough medicines on under 2s despite the warnings

Parents are dosing up their babies on over-the-counter medicines, despite concerns some are dangerous, an Australian-first study found. – More than 40% of parents have used cough medicine for children younger than two ? even though it is not recommended, nor proven effective for children in this age group, an Australia-first study has found.

Purple passion fruit peel reduces asthma symptoms

Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma – Passion fruit peel can significantly improve the symptoms of asthma. Patients given an extract from the Purple passion fruit’s peel had reduced wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath, due to anti-oxidant, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties of Purple passion fruit.

GSK’s new vaccine Rotarix to prevent gastroenteritis by rotavirus

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) vaccine Rotarix for use in infants. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of Rotarix, the second oral U.S. licensed vaccine for the prevention of rotavirus, an infection that causes gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea) in infants and children. Rotarix is a liquid and given in a two-dose series to infants from 6 to 24 weeks of age.

New blood pressure drug telmisartan has fewer side effects

A new drug telmisartan is as effective as the popular drug ramipril in reducing cardiovascular death in high risk patients and it has fewer side effects. – A major Canadian-led global study has found that a new blood pressure medication is effective in reducing cardiovascular death, with fewer side effects than the current standard of care. The study found a new drug telmisartan is as effective as the popular drug ramipril in reducing cardiovascular death in high risk patients and it has fewer side effects.

Tussionex cough medicine with hydrocodone warning

US FDA health agency gives new safety information on proper use of Tussionex as a cough suppressant. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert on the safe and correct use of Tussionex Pennkinetic Extended-Release Suspension in response to numerous reports of adverse events–including death–associated with the misuse and inappropriate use of this potent cough medication.

7000 pediatric emergency visits linked to cough and cold medication

CDC study estimates 7,000 pediatric emergency departments visits linked to cough and cold medication. Unsupervised ingestion accounts for 66 percent of incidents. – An estimated 7,000 children ages 11 and younger are treated in hospital emergency departments each year because of cough and cold medications, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately two-thirds of those incidents were due to unsupervised ingestion (i.e., children taking the medication without a parent’s knowledge).

Snoring may lead to chronic bronchitis

Snoring may lead to chronic bronchitis

This prospective study observed that snoring is associated with chronic bronchitis, and findings provide support for the hypothesis that snoring influences the development of chronic bronchitis. – Snoring is more prevalent in patients with chronic bronchitis than in persons without it. Few studies have examined the effect of snoring on chronic bronchitis. Frequent snoring appears to be associated with the development of chronic bronchitis, according to a report in the January 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Saline nasal wash improves cold symptoms

A saline nasal wash solution made from processed seawater appears to improve nasal symptoms and may help prevent the recurrence of respiratory infections when used by children with the common cold. – Children show faster resolution of some nasal symptoms during acute illness and less frequent reappearance of rhinitis subsequently, after nasal isotonic saline application to prevent reappearance of cold and flu in children during the winter.

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