Large Recall of Children's OTC Meds, including Motrin, Tylenol, Benedryl, Zyrtec.

[Anonymous]

PP here -- one of the ones complaining about the FDA and lack of oversight.

What does your post really have to do with the recall? How do you know every mom on here is "drugging" their kids for "minor" issues? And who are you to say what's minor and what's not?

I am as holistic as they come -- we NEVER drug our kiddo for minor reasons and without trying everything else first.

and don't often administer tylenol but we have, twice. The first time was when our baby had a very high fever and our very holistic-oriented pediatrician advised us to do so. The second time was when my son was cutting four teeth at once. He was screaming his head off and nothing worked. I tried just about everything. He was in so much pain he was not nursing. I thought about what I would do if I were cutting so many teeth and, since my little one can't say "please give me some relief" I gave him a dose of tylenol. He got three new teeth the next day. I am so glad I do not live in an era where fast and (generally) safe pain relief is not readily available for my child. Yes, people should not overdo it, and clearly some people do, but your comment was unnecessary.

Final thought: A friend of mine is an EMT and told me that the first thing they would do, if called to a home for a child with an extremely high fever, would be to administer tylenol. I now have two friends who have kids who get febrile seizures. Some of you people who are so anti-drug are absolutely mental. I imagine I agree with you on many issues, and yet you can't think of a better way to make your point than snark and drama. *sigh*

[Anonymous]

I had children's versions of all of the recalled medicine, and all were part of the recall except the Zyrtec, which is the oldest and expires in June.

According to the FAQs, they will be offering refunds:

http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/faq.inc

[Anonymous]

I'm about to run out of Zyrtec and have been searching for a new bottle for more than a week (or even some chewables). Both Target and CVS had empty shelves last weekend. Has anyone seen Zyrtec-stocked shelves in SS area?

I know to avoid the lots in question, but DS's asthma is caused by allergies and he's been coughing for almost a month now. Am getting pretty desperate.

Tx.

[Anonymous]

I am upset becuase I choose to pay more for name brand medicine since I trusted it over the store brand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had children's versions of all of the recalled medicine, and all were part of the recall except the Zyrtec, which is the oldest and expires in June.

According to the FAQs, they will be offering refunds:

http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/faq.inc

Thanks for this. I filled out the "Contact Us" form requesting a refund...we'll see.

[Anonymous]

We use the Costco brand "Zyrtec". It's terrific and saves a bundle of money too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My children's zyrtek came from the pharmacy located at my pediatrician's office - Capital Medical Group. It has a different lot number than the one recalled. I just bought it last week. Good luck.

THEY ARE NOT LOT NUMBERS, THEY ARE THE NDC NUMBERS. ALL PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. CAN YOU READ?????

[Anonymous]

Gee...I have a recalled bottle of Motrin here with about two doses left in it. Awesome. I'm mother of the year.

Thanks for posting, OP.

Also, in response to a PP, people gave their kids baby aspirin before Motrin and Tylenol...we don't do that anymore due to Reye's Syndrome.

Prior to commercial production of aspirin, folks use to use willow bark (from which aspirin comes), or whiskey on the gums.

So, really, we all need to remove ourselves from our high horses. We do the best we can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm about to run out of Zyrtec and have been searching for a new bottle for more than a week (or even some chewables). Both Target and CVS had empty shelves last weekend. Has anyone seen Zyrtec-stocked shelves in SS area?

I know to avoid the lots in question, but DS's asthma is caused by allergies and he's been coughing for almost a month now. Am getting pretty desperate.

Tx.

Target in Gaithersburg has tons of store brand Zyrtec and Benadryl. We picked up a bunch this evening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children's zyrtek came from the pharmacy located at my pediatrician's office - Capital Medical Group. It has a different lot number than the one recalled. I just bought it last week. Good luck.

THEY ARE NOT LOT NUMBERS, THEY ARE THE NDC NUMBERS. ALL PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. CAN YOU READ?????

And can YOU give her the benefit of the doubt that that's what she meant? Go have a drink and settle down a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and you still think it's ok to drug your children for minor issues. *sigh*

I agree with this.

People are waaay to quick to give their kids meds for any and everything. Fevers are the body's way to fight infection. If it's under 103, let it run it's course. Lots of fluids. If it's over 103, you're calling the pedi anyway, so leave it up to him/her.

Teething is definitely tough, but your child WILL get through it.

What did people used to do before Motrin/Tylenol was so widespread for infants?

Really, think twice before you give your kids these drugs. I know it can make life so much easier to give the kid some Motrin, but is it worth the risk? These companies are out to make money.

I often find that the first thing people ask me when DD has a fever is "Did you give her Motrin?". Umm, no, that is not the only option.

Do you take pain meds for a headache? My infant cannot decide when they are in enough pain that they need help. I have to make that decision for them. If I decide they are in enough pain to warrant tylenol or motrin who are you to judge me? Maybe I think it is crazy you let your child writhe in pain and do nothing to help them, perhaps I think that is borderline abusive. Fortunately I do live in a first world county where I am able to provide my child with pain relief. While I am glad children who do not have that option available to them *do survive*, why is it that has to be the marker I use to determine whether or not I treat *my child*?

[Anonymous]

What did people do before modern pain meds were available? Cold baths for fever (miserable for the kid, no longer recommended by doctors) and distilled alcohol or opiates for teething. My mom recalls being sent down to the drugstore to pick up a bottle of some opiate syrup for her younger siblings. Yeah, let's go back to the "good" old days.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was hospitalized a few weeks ago for 4 days and 4 nights and they ran tons of tests and found nothing wrong. I just looked at the Zyrtec bottle that is just about all gone and the number on the bottle is one that was recalled. She has had three seizures and we couldn't figure out what they were from. This was and is still very frightening. I am now sure that this was from the Zyrtec. So, now what do I do? Thank God, we didn't give her any of the last of the Zyrtec. What is really frightening is that we purchased two bottles a few months ago and she just about finished the second bottle. She was taking it a few times a day for a few months. So, I am sure this was the cause. Check all of the bottles in your home and let your friends know about this. I would hate for anyone to go through all that we have gone through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My children's zyrtek came from the pharmacy located at my pediatrician's office - Capital Medical Group. It has a different lot number than the one recalled. I just bought it last week. Good luck.

THEY ARE NOT LOT NUMBERS, THEY ARE THE NDC NUMBERS. ALL PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. CAN YOU READ?????


It is the NDC number, thanks for clarification. You're right and it is not recalled. The Zyrtek by Capital Medical Group is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Does anyone seriously trust the FDA after (among others) the BPA thing?

Why hate on the FDA.... As a pp said, this recall is happening because the FDA is doing their job. Perhaps you'd rather just buy your meds and cosmetics on line from some other random country that doesn't have any regulations in place.... (plastic melanine in baby formula in China anyone???)

It's REACTIVE, not proactive.

What about quality control and inspectors doing a thorough job on a regular basis? Is it too much to ask a person to do his/her job?

It's really the job of the company to make sure they have proper quality control measures for the drugs they make. Yes, FDA has an oversight role, but with ALL drugs it's the job of the company to make sure that they are following the law and have good manufacturing practices. FDA does have a role in inspecting on a regular basis but they would never catch everything even if they had all the resources and authority in the world to do so. It doesn't work that way. Also, here, according to the New York Times, the recall comes after FDA cited McNeil on Friday morning for manufacturing violations found during a routine inspection at a company facility in Fort Washington, Pa. So they did catch it...