Content about Antitussives

The March/April 2013 Allergy Relief Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, ingredients, purpose and dosage of Claritin-D, Allegra-D, Zyrtec-D, Benadryl-D, Advil Allergy and Congestion Relief, UrgentRx Allergy Attack, Hyland's Seasonal Allergy Relief, Similasan's Nasal Allergy Relief and Boiron's Sabadil.

"As seen on 'Shark Tank'" may become the new "As Seen on TV" plug, especially if more products like Ava the Elephant — a pediatric medical dispenser that talks to children as its dispensing the medicine — make it to market.

Mom and entrepreneur Tiffany Krumins appeared on the pilot show of ABC's "Shark Tank" and talked real-estate mogul Barbara Corcoran into investing $50,000 into the product concept.

BETHESDA, Md. — The National Institute on Drug Abuse last week released the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey, finding that 5.6% of high school seniors abused over-the-counter cough and cold medicines containing dextromethorphan, a rate that has held relatively steady over the past five years. Abuse of DXM products was reported to be 3% among eighth graders and 4.7% among tenth graders, bringing the overall average to under 5%.

The November/December 2012 Cough, Cold and Flu Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, ingredients, purpose and dosage of Mucinex, Vicks, Advil, Theraflu, Delsym, St. Joseph, Hyland's Similasan and Zicam products.

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Similasan is one homeopathic company making a move into pediatric cough/cold. “Pharmacists have endorsed the Similasan brand,” noted Dan Quail, VP sales at Similasan, which will help bridge the eye/ear care sets with pediatric cough/cold. “So when mom goes into cough syrup, there’s a natural tie-in to take care of the ears and the eyes,” he said. “It’s a solution-driven process.”


ALLEGAN, Mich., and MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. — Perrigo and Tris Pharma have launched a private-label version of Delsym extended-release oral liquid suspension containing dextromethorphan polistirex.

The comapnies said the product, which is indicated for the temporary treatment of cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation, will be marketed under major U.S. retailer and wholesalers' store brands or own label brands.

WASHINGTON — Sens. Bob Casey, D.-Pa., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent the abuse of cough syrup to get high by restricting the sale of products containing dextromethorphan to adults older than 18 years of age.

WASHINGTON — Making a direct appeal to teens, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association has created the website DXMstories.org that directly engages young adults around the dangers of dextromethorphan abuse with provocative video clips featuring peer anecdotes.

LAS VEGAS — Hyland's has extended its Defend lineup of cough-cold products with a pair of adult cough syrups — Defend Cough & Cold and Defend Cough & Cold Night — last week at the ECRM Cough & Cold and Allergy EPPS.

The products, which carry a suggested retail price of $9.99, are being promoted through Hyland's "Action Moms" campaign, an interactive campaign that ties Hyland's adult cough-cold products to a key target demographic: the do-everything mom.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Thursday identified Tammy Walsh as the newest mom to join its Five Moms campaign to raise awareness of teen cough medicine abuse among parents. Walsh is a mother of two teenage boys and a high school math teacher from Northport, N.Y.

According to the 2011 Monitoring the Future report released Wednesday, nearly 5% of teens have abused OTC cough medicines to get high over the past year. While overall abuse has leveled off for eighth and 10th graders, it has declined among 12th graders.

MIAMI — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Miami Coalition last week held a town hall meeting on preventing teen cough medicine abuse.

The event aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of medicine abuse and included Myriam Masihy from Univision to serve as the mistress of ceremony.

SALT LAKE CITY — Zarbee's on Wednesday announced the launch of Zarbee's Nighttime Cough and Sleep Drink, an over-the-counter nighttime cough remedy.

Zarbee's Nighttime Cough and Sleep Drink is made from antioxidant-rich buckwheat honey, which recent clinical studies have shown is more effective at relieving coughs associated with colds and upper respiratory illnesses than dextromethorphan or diphenhydramine, the company claimed.