Cold and flu medication for children under two

The National Drugs and Poisons Scheduling Committee’s (NDPSC) February 2008 post-meeting gazette notice was published on 9th April 2008, advising of the changes to the scheduling status of sedating antihistamines, when recommended for children less than two years of age.

The Therapeutics Goods Administration considers that OTC cough and cold medicines should not be used in infants and children less than two years of age.

Accordingly, effective 1st September 2008, products containing brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dexchlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, pheniramine, promethazine or triprolidine when recommended for children less than two years of age will have the scheduling changed from “S3 - Pharmacy Medicine” to “S4 - Prescription Medicine”.