Parents warned against buying homeopathic teething products online for babies
Parents with infants or young children should not buy unlicensed homeopathic products online, says the UK regulatory body MHRA.
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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised parents in the UK not to buy unlicensed homeopathic teething gels and tablets online, due to the risk of side effects.
The advice has come after an investigation into homeopathic teething products carried out by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a 'treatment' based on the use of highly diluted substances, which practitioners claim can cause the body to heal itself.
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They believe that the more a substance is diluted, the greater power it has to treat symptoms.
People looking to use homeopathic remedies, over prescribed treatments, should speak to their GP before doing so.
For more information, visit the NHS website.
What were the findings?
The investigation found that certain homeopathic teething tablets and gels, manufactured in the US, could cause serious side effects.
These include difficulty with breathing, seizures, lethargy, muscle weakness, excessive sleepiness, skin flushing, difficulty urinating, constipation and agitation.
Although these particular online products have been manufactured in the US, they're not licensed for use in the UK and aren't knowingly available to buy in UK stores. However, these products can still be found advertised online.
Need advice?
Our health visitors and nursery nurses are on line Monday to Friday evenings to answer your queries on feeding, sleep and child health.
What products are safe?
Parents should not be worried about products licensed in the UK, as they're not affected.
Below is a list of licensed homeopathic products from the MHRA that parents can continue to use:
MHRA director of licensing, Dr Siu Ping Lam said:
‘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. Read the eight top tips for buying medicines and devices safely online: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/know-what-youre-buying.'
‘If you have given your child any unlicensed homeopathic products and they experience side effects, you should contact your doctor for advice.'
If you’re unsure about homeopathic remedies, gently rubbing your child's gums with a clean finger, using a chilled teething ring, or even a cold wet flannel can help with teething.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has also produced a guide on how to deal with teething symptoms, which can be found here.
