British regulators have moved to ban most child cough and cold remedies after concluding they are ineffective.
Parents have been told not to use many common syrups and remedies on children under six – and their use for older children will be restricted.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency named some 36 products that will be restricted and eight that will be allowed for children under six.
It has taken action after concluding that most cough remedies are not effective in children – and may pose risks.
The ruling does not affect Calpol.
The remedies that are allowed include specialist baby products including substances such as honey, lemon and glucose.
The MHRA said parents were advised to stick to simple remedies based on paracetamol, ibuprofen, lemon and honey.
Those who purchase products from pharmacists for children over the age of six will be advised not to use them for longer than five days and to read the warnings on the packaging.
Dr June Raine, of the MHRA, said: "Coughs and colds can be distressing for both you and your child but they will get better by themselves within a few days. Using simple measures to ease symptoms is likely to be most effective.
"Over-the-counter medicines used to treat coughs and colds have been used for many years.
"However they came into use when clinical trials were not required to demonstrate that they worked in children. This means they were not specially designed for children.
"It is not right to assume safety and efficacy based on children being small adults. Children should have access to medicines that are acceptably safe and designed for their use."
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