[tri-med] Re: FYI - OTC aspirin ban likely to be extended to all under 16s


----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Schuler" <karens@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Restrictions on the use of aspirin are to be further tightened, the
> Medicines Control Agency announced this week. All aspirin products will be
> required to carry a warning that children under 16 years of age should not
> take aspirin unless specifically advised to do so by a doctor.
>
> The announcement follows earlier recommendations from the Committee on
> Safety of Medicines that aspirin should be avoided in children aged up to
> and including 15 years if they are feverish and that the ban in
> under-12-year-olds should remain (PJ, 27 April, p557). These restrictions
> were thought to be necessary because of the small risk of Reye's syndrome
> among 12- to 15-year-olds who have a fever and who take aspirin (see
Panel).
> However, the CSM reviewed its recommendations at its October meeting and
> decided that because aspirin products are on general sale the advice was
too
> complicated.
>
> Professor Alasdair Breckenridge, chairman of the CSM, said: "The risk of
> Reye's syndrome in 12- to 15-year-olds is small but there have been
concerns
> that earlier advice was too complex for products that are available on
> general sale - in the supermarket and corner shop - requiring a diagnosis
of
> fever by a parent or minor.
>
> "There are plenty of analgesic products containing paracetamol and
ibuprofen
> for this age group not associated with Reye's syndrome. There is simply no
> need to expose those under 16 to the risk, however small."

This is interesting. We had our dr tell us that aspirin is more "safe" for
infants and children than the acedomedicins (Tylenol) that damage the
liver.Said that in the medical journals he reads there are studies showing
aspirin to be safer on organs than the other brands of pain relievers--more
reported instances of liver damage to children they episodes of Reyes
Syndrome.

He further stated that the drug companies don't make $$ on aspirin (very
simple cheap product) like they do all the synthetic stuff. Added to that,
aspirin is a superior anti-inflammatory and fever reducer compared to the
acedomedicisn and ibuprofens.

He makes sense to us and we have always used aspirin for the kids (does work
better on fevers in adults AND children based on our comparisons when we did
give some Tylenol in hosp one illness with Molly--didn't work like the
aspirin we'd done at home at all!). I have no intention of changing.

But this stuff sure does make you wonder just WHO is telling the truth! lol

Michelle mom to Alex (15,partial trisomy 14 mosaic) and Molly (11)
Michigan USA


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

Other related posts: