Top

Published in:

01-06-2012 | Commentary

Are Drug Combinations Safe in the Pediatric Practice?

Authors: Siba Prosad Paul, Abigail Mee, Anil Kumar Garg

Published in: Indian Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 6/2012

Excerpt

Drug combinations have been used since ancient times with an aim to increase efficacy against a disease or symptom [1]. In recent times, factors such as improved compliance and concordance have been used to support the formulation and prescribing of combination medicines [1]. Review of commonly used drug formularies such as CIMS India, IAP Drug Formulary and BNF for Children highlight the abundance of drug combinations for children. The most common ones are analgesics, antipyretics, decongestants and antibiotics [2]. …

Podolsky SH, Greene JA. Combination drugs—hype, harm and hope. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:488–91.PubMedCrossRef

Banker N, Gajjar B, Mirja N. Fixed dose combinations: most of them are not rational. (2009) Available at http://www.iapgujarat.com/peditrician_forum_detail.php?id=2.

Frois C, Wu EQ, Ray S, Colice GL. Inhaled Corticosteroids or Long-acting beta-agonists alone or in fixed-dose combinations in asthma treatment: a systematic review of fluticasone/budesonide and formoterol/salmeterol. Clin Ther. 2009;31:2779–803.PubMedCrossRef

Nelson HS, Weiss ST, Bleecker ER, et al. The salmeterol multicenter asthma research trial: a comparison of usual pharmacotherapy for asthma or usual pharmacotherapy plus salmeterol. Chest. 2006;129:15–26.PubMedCrossRef

Sharfstein JM, North M, Serwint JR. Over the counter but no longer under the radar—pediatric cough and cold medications. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(23): 2321–24.CrossRef

Cochrane Collaboration. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in ambulatory settings (Review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008, Issue 1.

CHM/MHRA website. Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children. Drug Safety Update. 2009; 2:8–9. Available at www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/DrugSafetyUpdate/index.htm.

Bhatt-Mehta V. Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines: should parents be using them for their children? Ann Pharmacother. 2004;38:1964–66.PubMedCrossRef

Pitetti RD, Whitman E, Zaylor A. Accidental and nonaccidental poisonings as a cause of apparent life-threatening events in infants. Pediatrics. 2008;122:e359–e62.PubMedCrossRef

10.

Center for disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infant deaths associated with cough and cold medications—two states, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2007;56:1–4.

11.

FDA consumer health information. Using over-the-counter cough and cold products in children. October 22, 2008. Available at www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/coughcold102208.html.

12.

Berlin Jr CM. Pharmacokinetics in children: Principles of drug treatment in children. The Merck Manual 18th ed. June 2009. www.merckmanuals.com.

13.

Paul SP, Whibley J. Paracetamol use in children: is it as safe as we think? Prescriber. 2011;22:16–20.CrossRef

14.

Dart RC, Paul IM, Bond GR, et al. Pediatric fatalities associated with over the counter (nonprescription) cough and cold medications. Ann Emerg Med. 2009;53:411–7.PubMedCrossRef

15.

Rimsza ME, Newberry S. Unexpected infant deaths associated with use of cough and cold medications. Pediatrics. 2008;122:e318–22.PubMedCrossRef

16.

Lokker M, Sanders L, Perrin EM, et al. Parental misinterpretations of over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold medication labels. Pediatrics. 2009;123:1464–71.PubMedCrossRef

Title: Are Drug Combinations Safe in the Pediatric Practice?
Authors: Siba Prosad Paul
Abigail Mee
Anil Kumar Garg
Publication date: 01-06-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Indian Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 6/2012
Print ISSN: 0019-5456
Electronic ISSN: 0973-7693
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-012-0710-3

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Are Drug Combinations Safe in the Pediatric Practice?

Excerpt

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Excerpt

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 6/2012

Study on Clinical Characteristics and Follow-up Visit of Acquired Aplastic Anemia Associated with Parvovirus B19 Infection

Effect of Oxidative Stress on Membrane Proteins in Thalassemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia

Large Adrenocortical Carcinoma Presenting as an Adenoma with Precocious Puberty

Rituximab in Steroid Refractory Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Neuroblastoma: A Review of Management and Outcome

Primary Malignant Liver Tumors in Children