Comments on: Did Doc Groups Sneeze At Regulating Kiddie Meds?

By: Donna

Donna — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:30:17 +0000

Ed,

Were you a Whiskey Baby?….I was…and i wonder if my relative’s ever figured out where the olive’s in their martini’s went???? LOL…Rebel Yell!!!! Billy Idol hmmmmm now we’re going back…..Have a great weekend…:)

By: Donna

Donna — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:10:00 +0000

Nathan,

I agree…thinking way back before my kid’s were old enough to take adult medication if i had to run to the dr. everytime there was a cough,chest congestion or runny nose,,between the three of them i would of alway’s been there…and of course knowing what your children can and can’t take, dosage etc. is key…

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:45:27 +0000

I went to a presentation given by the president of the Amercian Pharmacists Association earlier this week (very charismatic guy). I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but he basically said he didn’t really understand why these drugs were pulled.

By: Lisa Van S

Lisa Van S — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:01:31 +0000

ED,

In NJ we have a Legislative Bill A4245(Parental Informed Consent for Psychotropic Drugs that carry a Black Box Warning.The American Academy of Pediatrics vigorously opposes this Bill becoming Law,Why,..Listen here

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/archive_audio2asp?key=aco&session=2006

Nancy Pinkin the NJ Lobbyist for this group believes life threatening side effects of these drugs are arbitrary…

By: Nathan

Nathan — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:58:13 +0000

Also, people here should keep in mind that OTC drugs represent only a tiny fraction of revenue for pharma companies. As an example, Robitussin / Dimetapp cold medications (adult and children combined) only account for about 1% of the Wyeth’s revenue this year. Cold medications are NOT big moneymakers for the pharma industry.

By: Ed Silverman

Ed Silverman — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:54:23 +0000

Hi Nathan,

I understand your point and that’s why I’ve always advocated whiskey - Rebel Yell, to be specific. Of course, then I get in trouble with Mrs. Pharmalot.

As always, pendulums swing back and forth, and this may swing still more.

Thanks for writing in,

ed at Pharmalot

By: Nathan

Nathan — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:49:30 +0000

These stories about kids medicines really upset me. Does anyone understand how much money clinical trials cost? No pharmaceutical company is going to spend $50-$100 million to fund a phase III clinical trial on children to check and see if the $3.50 generic medication sold at Walmart is actually effective. The generic companies certainly aren’t going to fund it either.

This society has become way too concerned about safety. We are concidering yanking kids cold medications that may have killed 6 children (primarily) due to accidental overdose. What do doctors think that parents are going to do when they no longer have access drugs to treat thier children’s colds? Here’s a few choices:
1) Put a bit of whiskey in thier milk (common until 50 years ago)
2) Cut an adult pill in half and give it to thier kid
3) Wait 10 years while big pharma develops new cold medications which will be PRESCRIPTION medications (not OTC) and will not have generic coverage and will therefore cost at least $50 for cold medicine every time your kids gets a cold.

How many kids do you think will die when parents start trying #1 and #2 on the list above? Probably a lot more than 6.