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FDA warns of cough drug effects on young children

The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Tuesday that the accidental ingestion of Tessalon liquid cough capsules pose a serious risk of side effects or death to children under 10 years old.

Tessalon is approved by the agency to treat cough symptoms in patients older than 10. But, the agency said, the capsules may attract children because of their candy-like appearance. Brand name Tessalon is sold by Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc., though the product has been on the market for decades and several generic companies make versions of the product, also known as Benzonatate.

"Benzonatate (Tessalon) should be kept in a child-resistant container and stored out of reach of children," said Carol Holquist, director of the FDA's division of medication error prevention and analysis, in a statement. "The FDA encourages health care professionals to talk with their patients and those caring for children about the risk of accidental ingestion or overdose."

The agency has identified seven cases of accidental ingestion between 1982 and 2010. Five of those cases resulted in death in children 2 years of age and younger.

Common side effects include heart attack, coma, and convulsion. Signs and symptoms can occur within 15 minutes of ingestion and some of the deaths reported in children occurred within hours of accidental ingestion.

‘Botanical’ drink from eel extracts

MELAKA: The word ‘eel’ elicits various reaction from many but quite a number also realise that this fish constitutes several delicacies particularly from the east coast and northern part of the peninsula.

Known to locals as ‘belut’ or ‘ikan linang’, the eel is a familiar part among the rice and soup dishes in Kelantan such as eel soup and eel tom yam rice apart from nasi kerabu eel.

These rice dishes are common within the town and district

of Tumpat in Kelantan.

In the northern states of the peninsula, it is common for cooks to use the flesh of eels as the main composition of the gravy for laksa (rice noodles).

The eel or Monopterus Albus is a long slimy fish that resembles the snakehead and has gills.

Despite the fact that many refrain from eating eels, it is also a known statement that this fish exhibits a number of ‘nourishments’.

It is believed that eels can improve the body’s resistance to diseases, stabilise the blood pressure, smoothens the skin, inhibits eye infection, improves memory and prevents hepatitis. The eel is also rich in fatty acids, calcium, vitamins and iron.

Many say that eating eels helps to have healthy kidneys, prevents asthma and palpitations, erectile dysfunction and hastens wound healing.

Rancak Niaga, a Bumiputera firm based in Melaka has introduced the botanical drink with eel extracts under the brand name ‘Hibaat’. There is also a lotion under the same brand.

It is the company’s initiative for those who shy away from consuming eels due to their slimy character.

Rancak Niaga marketing director A Razak Kamis said the two products have been in the market for two months and received warm response from the public.

He said the botany drink with eel extracts was specially formulated to enhance the ‘male strength’ and stamina apart from stabilising the blood pressure and easing joint pains.

Among the constituents of the drink are eel extracts, herbs such as Tribulus terrasteris, Ginkgo biloba, Guarana and other spices.

The company markets the drink in two forms — 390 ml bottles and boxes of five 30 ml sachets each.

A Razak said the eel extract lotion was specially formulated to enhance facial beauty and skin care.

The lotion is enriched with extracts from white rose and chamomile believed to be good for the skin.

He said initially the focus of the products is in Melaka before being expanded to other states next year.

“In the first phase, the company produces 5,000 units of each product and in January next year the figure will be scaled to 10,000 units for each product,” he told Bernama here.

“This is only until December. Our turnover target is RM200,000 but for next year we expect RM5 million,” he said adding that RM70,000 was used as the initial outlay for both products. — Bernama

A Razak said the firm plans to produce another two items — the eel botany extract drink for women and massage oil from eel extracts.

A Razak said the idea to produce both items came about after he met a friend by the name of Zulkifle Ahmad at a restaurant in Duyong near here.

They were enjoying eel soup then.

“I actually did not have a taste for eels but my friend has and at that moment it crossed my mind why not make drinks and massage oil from eels,” he said.

He said the eel extracts were processed at a mill in Negeri Sembilan.

A Razak said the firm sourced the eels from local suppliers.

It plans to breed eels commercially in the future. — Bernama