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Check for Recalled Infant and Children’s Drugs

McNeil Consumer Healthcare and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of numerous drugs for infants and children including popular pain medications Tylenol and Motrin. Also recalled were certain Zyrtec and Benadryl products (also for children) often used this time of year to relieve for allergies and colds.

With an eight-month-old infant who is teething, I've depended on infant Motrin to get even a little sleep for the last several weeks. When I learned about the recall of more than 40 over-the-counter children's medications my McNeil Consumer Healthcare, I quickly looked in our medicine cabinet to assess the damage.

We had three bottles of the recalled drugs: the Motrin for our baby, a bottle of Motrin for older children and a children's Tylenol. Also recalled were Children's Benadryl and Children's Zyrtec.

Here's the full list of the recalled medications, and a link you can past into your browser it you have trouble following that link - http://media.philly.com/images/ON+List+Final_list.jpg.

Even though Fort Washington, Pa.-based McNeil and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that the recall was not prompted by any injuries to babies or children taking the medications, my wife and I are concerned about how much of the pain killer we have been giving to our youngest daughter recently.

The recall notice said that the recalled medications could have higher concentrations of active ingredient than intended or inactive ingredients that didn't meet requirements. Other products could contain tiny particles.

None of that sounded good. So besides our medicine cabinet, we need to check the bottles that we have at our kids' daycare center. It will probably all need to be replaced even if though the FDA said the potential for serious medical problems as a result of using these products was "remote." Still the federal agency advised parents to stop giving it to their children.

The FDA said alternative over-the-counter medications, including generic versions of the recalled products were available and that it did not anticipate a shortage.

"We want to be certain that consumers discontinue using these products and that they know what to do if they have concerns about a specific product," said FDA commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg. "We are investigating the products and facilities associated with this recall and will provide updates as we learn more."

Here is an Associated Press article on the recall.

McNeil has set up a website for people with questions and those who have purchased the products.