By Jennie
McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the maker of Tylenol and a number of other over-the-counter medicines has issued a voluntary recall of certain children’s medicines (a full list can be found here) due to quality control concerns. The recall covers 43 different products under the brand names of Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. The company issued the recall after fielding consumer complaints over “tiny particles” found in some medicines; investigation of these complaints led to concerns that some of the medications “may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified” and “others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements,” according to a press release issued by the company.
Generic products are not affected and can be used as an alternative to the affected brands; a U.S. News and World Report article also details a few methods for treating cold and congestion symptoms without medication.
It sounds like the recall is merely precautionary, but do check to see if you have any of the recalled products in your house. And let us know your thoughts – do you generally feel safe taking OTC medicines, or have recent scares made you more wary?
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6 Responses to Recall of Children’s Medicine
When the recalls are for adult brands, I barely notice b/c I don’t make most of them. But when it involves childrens medicines, I panic & start checking labels b/c I usually have a few brands listed in the recall. I’m going to take the advice I got from the news tho… buying store brands from now on.
Stacy, I agree. It’s much more concerning when recalls involve children’s products.
I am not generally a worry wart when it comes to these things, but it does make you pause and realize how much trust we really put in food and drug manufacturers. Something to ponder…
I generally feel safe taking over the counter medications. Maybe I should not.
I think the instances of things going wrong are rare – that’s why we hear about them. But it is a bit chilling to realize that we take for granted that our food and medicines are safe. Most of the things we put in our body are far removed from their original source and have had all sorts of things done to them to make them fit for consumption. It’s definitely something to think about.
I was very disappointed. It wasn’t isolated. Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, and Zyrtec. How is it that these huge and trusted names could screw it up so dramatically but generics get it right?
It’s concerning. It’s frightening on some levels. I am more comfortable w/the safety of uncontaminated drugs (not their side effects) than I am of contaminated food. The recalls of that shake me up when you read that children died by eating food bought at the store and fixed by mom. Adults too, but the children are more susceptible. I do not have the same concerns when I pick up bottle of cough syrup.