Cough syrup abuse by teens triggers FDA review
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Cough syrup abuse by teens triggers FDA review OTC cough medicines, including Pfizer’s Robitussin and Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol Cough, are to be reviewed by the US FDA for possible dispensing restrictions due to signs of increasing abuse and injury among adolescents, according to a government report. The report shows that non-medical use of the cough suppressant dextromethorphan was associated with approximately 7988 ER visits in the US in 2008, up from 4634 in 2004. The FDA says that dextromethorphan’s "perceived safety, ease of availability, and desired psychoactive effects" make it prone to abuse by adolescents, who often refer to such intentional abuse as ‘robo-tripping’ or ‘skittling’. For these reasons, routine changes to labelling or product packaging design "will probably not reduce the abuse trend", contends the FDA. As such, the agency is gathering data on the scope of the problem, in response to a call by the Drug Enforcement Administration to recommend new dispensing restrictions.
A burden to responsible consumers? However, drug manufacturers contend that imposing federal restrictions on dextromethorphan, and making the drug a controlled substance, will burden consumers unnecessarily. Spokeswoman for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Elizabeth Funderburk states that their goal "is to stop the intentional abuse of cough medicine while allowing for continued, responsible availability of these medicines". Bloomberg. Cough-syrup abuse by kids may draw FDA restrictions for Pfizer, J&J drugs. Internet Document : [1 page], 31 Aug 2010. Available from: URL: http:// 801140770 www.bloomberg.com
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Reactions 11 Sep 2010 No. 1318
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