A recent concern has been raised regarding side effects and unintended release times of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines that are not approved by the FDA.
As discerned by a New York Criminal Lawyer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has deemed over 500 name-brand, over-the-counter drugs as sketchy at best, stating that they should not be on the market at all. One of the primary concerns is in regards to the claims of the drug’s reaction upon human consumption. On the one hand, some of the cough and cold products release the primary active ingredients much to quickly; it has been noted that one product in particular releases the active ingredient within 30 minutes of consumption, rather than the 8-12 hours advertised on the package. Other products err on the opposite side of the spectrum, releasing the main ingredients much slower than advertised.
A woman who serves the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research as director of compliance expresses her concern regarding these products by saying, “We don’t know what’s in them, whether they work properly, or how they are made.” The arbitrary nature of the OTC drugs has also raised concern among notable physicians. A professor of family medicine from the University of Michigan stated he’s “quite certain that very few physicians are aware of them being unapproved, and would be as surprised as I was to hear that there were unapproved drugs on the market at all.” A Long Island Criminal Lawyer notes that some of the specifics of these unapproved and potentially dangerous drugs include the combining of two or more active ingredients such as antihistamines, which are sometimes known to over-sedate a patient.
The FDA further expressed its unease regarding the tendency of some products to promote use for children under 2 years of age; the administration has stressed in the past that children this age should not be consuming non-prescription cough and cold products under any circumstances.
Another detailed claim from the FDA regarding the side effects of such unapproved products includes irritability and drowsiness, though it is not stated if a specific age group is especially prone to these effects. A complete list of the drugs in question may be obtained from the Food and Drug Administration website.
Unintended consequences of drugs, whether prescription or over-the-counter, are often referred to as side- effects. Unfortunately, many times side-effects are not discerned until a product has already been in use. As stated above, there are currently hundreds of non-FDA approved cough and cold medicines circulating. Should you or a loved one experience harmful side-effects from these drugs produced and distributed dishonestly, a Stephen Bilkis and Associates is prepared to offer guidance, legal counsel and representation.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a felony, drug possession, white collar crime of theft crime, it is important to obtain legal assistance as soon as possible to ensure that your rights are protected. Come into to any of our conveniently located offices throughout New York. We will provide you with sound legal guidance and a free consultation.