Legal News

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is warning parents not to use unlicensed homeopathic teething tablets or gels available to buy online, due to the risk of side effects.

The advice follows a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation into homeopathic teething tablets and gels, which could cause serious side effects – including seizures, breathing difficulties, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, or agitation.

These particular products are made and supplied by manufacturers in the USA and are not licensed for use in the UK and are not known to be available in UK outlets.

However, the unlicensed products may be advertised on online shopping or pharmacy websites.

MHRA has issued a list of licensed products which can be used for infants and toddlers.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has also produced a summary of the available evidence and guidance on how to manage symptoms of teething: http://cks.nice.org.uk/teething#!scenario.

MHRA Director of Licensing, Dr Siu Ping Lam said:

“If you have given your child any unlicensed homeopathic products and they experience side effects, you should contact your doctor for advice.

“Anyone who has bought unlicensed homeopathic products online should not use them and return them to your pharmacy for disposal.

“We advise members of the public not to buy unlicensed medicines online –and have recently launched a campaign to help people purchase medicines via the Internet safely.

If your child has experienced a side effect to any medicine, it can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.

The MHRA has published eight top tips for buying medicines and devices safely online.

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