Over-the-counter cough and cold remedies from the chemist do not work on children under the age of 12 years-old and GPs are to advise parents with children under 6 years-old not to buy them at all.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reviewed a number of remedies including Day Nurse, Lemsip and Sudafed and found no robust evidence to suggest they work on children.

The MHRA went on to add that the adverse side-effects such as hallucinations, allergic reactions and sleep disturbances meant they’d decided that these products should no longer be sold for use on children under the age of six. Pain relief remedies specifically for children (e.g. Calpol) will not be affected.

The MHRA have recommended that parents use natural remedies such as honey and lemon mixtures for coughs and colds. Herbal Medicine has a variety of natural remedies that are safe and effective for colds and pain relief. To ensure your safety and that of your child, visit a trained herbal medicine practitioner for further information.

Find a local practitioner