Kimber Brown died February 12, 2012 of Dextromethorphan overdose.

In 2008 Dr. Zak Zarbock reached a point where he didn’t feel comfortable recommending over-the-counter cough medicines to his young patients.  Research showed that children’s cough syrups and medicated cough remedies were not effective and potentially dangerous when given to children.  Zarbee’s was born as a way to offer parents a safe, effective and natural alternative to traditional cough syrups. Every product we make is 100% natural and drug-free. Never a chance of overdosing. Little did we know that zarbee’s would grow so fast.  It only did because parents became aware of the dangers of this still commonly used drug.

It’s a long word with even more confusion behind it: Dex-tro-meth-or-phan.

Fast forward from 2008 to present day and we hear in the news of yet another death by dextromethorphan intoxication.   Kimber Brown was given a dose of cough medicine that according to the coroner caused dextromethorphan intoxication. For those who can’t metabolize this drug, the outcome can be fatal. So, can you or your child metabolize dextromethorphan?

The Journals of Forensic Sciences just published a report that stated that 5-10% of people, both children and adults can’t properly metabolize dextromethorphan which can cause a series of problems, including death*.

So, how do you know if you or your child is a poor metabolizer of dextromethorphan? The truth is, you can’t without prior testing, which is unlikely for most. Our advice is to be very careful when using the drug.

*Dextromethorphan Abuse leading to assault, suicide and homicide, 2012.

‘Healthy home, Healthy family,’ Or at least that’s what many parents are setting out to achieve. The non-profit organization Healthy Child Healthy World is hoping to rally parent’s throughout the world to throw a party and increase awareness of toxins in the home, and instead find safe and healthy alternatives. The hosts of the parties are expected to share tips for creating a toxin-free household, which could include anything from unsafe household cleaners, to unsafe children’s cough medicines.  The organization hopes that these parties will encourage parents to protect their children by using safe and natural products.

The parties have quickly gained momentum. Alicia Tamayo, from PCMLifestyle.com reports, “Already more than 150 moms have signed up to host, including celebrities Jenna Elfman, Kelly Preston, Liza Huber (with her mom Susan Lucci), Laila Ali, Elisabeth Rohm, Alysia Reiner, Jennifer Taylor and Sasha Alexander. The organization is hoping to double this number before Party Week begins.”

Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, CEO and Executive Director of Healthy Child Healthy World urges, “There is nothing more important than the health of our children…with scientific evidence linking chemicals to asthma, autism, caner, allergies, diabetes, and more, it’s crucial that we spread the word about how to reduce toxic exposures.”

Luckily, Sarnoff is not the only one who has this concern and who has seen the signs. Jenna Elfman, star of TV’s Dharma and Greg said, “I had no idea about all the potential toxins in my household until I personally attended a Healthy Child Healthy World party in 2007…. I was pregnant with my first son and learned so much in one short afternoon. It opened the door to much healthier living for my family and I am forever grateful. Now I just want to return the favor.”

Tamayo says, “Since 2009, more than 4,000 hosts have used the Healthy Child party kits to educate friends, family and co-workers about protecting our children.”

But you don’t need to throw a party to show concern and make your home a toxin-free one. You can start by doing more research on safe household cleaning products, using natural and safe cough medicines, safely storing other OTC and prescribed drugs, and making sure you are aware of expiration dates on important products and food. That’s just a start, but it’s a good one.

If you’re interested in signing up for you own party, visit HealthyChild.org for all of the details. For the full article, click here.

For years now, parents have used OTC medicines to treat the symptoms of their children’s cough, or to keep a fever down, but many parents now confess to using antihistamines as a way to sedate their perfectly healthy but fussy child. Is it ethical to ‘drug’ or ‘sedate’ a child that isn’t necessarily sick when it’s convenient for the parent, or is it selfish and potentially dangerous?

Salon.com author, Mary Elizabeth Williams found herself asking the same question when an outpouring of responses to an article were mostly confessions of parents who had no problem with sedating their child for the sake of some sanity when traveling or when things got out of hand.

She writes, “I’ll admit that I was initially stunned to see how apparently commonplace the practice is. I’d never given my two daughters Benadryl or anything else to calm them down when they were young travelers, and the thought of doing so seemed wrong to me.”

But the comments of other parents who believed in the practice kept coming in. “….my friend Ted, who has two school-age daughters, regaled me with the story of flying to Florida a few years ago, “crouched down behind the row of seats in the departure lounge, feeding my perfectly healthy kids cough syrup so they will sleep, and looking guiltily around to see if I am going to be caught. Down at the other end of the long row of benches, I catch the eye of another parent doing the same thing to her daughter. All our kids rack out and we sit and laugh about it — and other kid realities — for the whole flight.”

But is this form of medicating really effective or even safe? The author’s research led her to Pediatrician and author Darshak Sanghavi who suggested otherwise. “According to a good randomized trial of Benadryl to promote sleep in infants, the drug didn’t really work any better than a placebo. So I first tell parents that it’s not really clear that Benadryl really works like many parents might think. Second, there are occasional case reports of Benadryl poisoning. Granted, those are highly unlikely, but my opinion is that parents traveling with infants should generally stay away from trying to sedate them with Benadryl, and instead focus on comforting them with feeding during takeoff and landing (may improve ear pressure equalization).”

Williams concludes with her own take on this form of OTC sedation, “I’m still glad I got out of my children’s meltdown years without dosing them – because that feels like the right and consistent approach for our family. I still shudder at the automatic “Haven’t you ever heard of Benadryl?” response from callous adults who think any child out in public should be silent and sleepy.”

What do you think? Is sedating your child with OTC medicine a good practice with fussy children on trips, or do you take a more natural approach, and exclusively use OTC cough medicines or anthistamines when a child is actually sick and in need of some relief?  Sound off here.

For the full article, click here.

You’re probably well aware of the widespread use of cough medicines for getting high, and you may even know these types of drug abuse by their street names, ‘robotripping’ and ‘dexing’.  But, for residents of Black River Falls, Wisconsin the issue has become serious enough that city council members are in talks to enforce harsher restrictions on cough medicines that include the ingredient Dextromethorphan(DXM). The council is suggesting measures that would have those DXM cough medicines go ‘behind the counter,’ along with several other safety procedures.

The Lacross Tribune reports that, “The residents first pushed for a formal ordinance that would require businesses to place items that contain DXM behind store counters. However, they now have asked the city to pass a resolution that would recommend business owners enforce age restrictions, limit the number of cough medicine products one can purchase at a time and also move the products behind counters.”

Educating people about the abuses and addictions that result in DXM overuse is also another agenda on the minds of the council members. Many people are unaware of DXM’s dangerous consequences, as the report cites, “… psychosis and cognitive problems…liver damage or death,’ as side effects.

Not everyone agreed with the measures, “Business owner Randy Molini voiced concerns about forcing businesses to comply with restrictions.” Molini suggested that, “Education really is the only way to change people’s mind…I don’t believe prohibition works …” To this, a spokesman “…reiterated the group isn’t looking for formal restrictions but rather a recommendation to businesses.”

Obviously the abuse of DXM cough syrups is a real and potentially serious thing, but the jury still seems to be out on what do about it.

What are your thoughts on the use of DXM cough medicines? Do you believe the Government should enforce stronger restrictions or that it should just be a matter of educating? Sound off here.

For the full report, click here.

You thought that there was nothing more irritating and unsettling than those deep, long, mucous-moving coughs, and then your child experience days or even weeks of that miserable, ticklish, dry cough. Trouble is, you’re not sure if you should still be treating it with cough medicine or if some things just make it worse. First of all, you’re not alone. Just about everyone (and their child) will experience a dry cough in their life, and although irritating, it’s not a lost cause. There are plenty of safe remedies and soothers for these irritating, arid coughs.

First of all, let’s talk about the causes of this irksome hacking. An article by SteadyHealth.com states that this sort of cough often “…occurs at the end of infections such as a cold, flu or sinus infection, or after a person has been exposed to irritants such as smoke, dust or chemical fumes. Smoking cigarettes, allergies and asthma are also common causes of coughs. The infections cause inflammation of the throat and upper airways. A dry cough is an attempt to remove this inflammation but it is usually of no benefit and rather can be uncomfortable.”

No benefit? Great, so it’s just coughing for coughing’s sake? If this sounds like a dead-end to you, do not despair. There is still relief to be had. But before we go into all of the ways to sooth this troublesome throat tickle, keep in mind that there are still some warnings attached to this type of cough.

Steadyhealth.com also warns, “In certain cases, a cough can be a symptom of a more serious condition such as lung infections like pneumonia or acute bronchitis chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sinusitis. It is therefore very important to see your doctor if a cough persists for any longer than 2-3 weeks.” We second that motion. If you ever feel like the symptoms are not easing up or worsening then it’s always best to get to your doctor.

However, if you’re just experiencing any of the regular symptoms, and you want relief for you and your child, then you’re in luck! There are several ways to soothe and ease this annoying cough.

• Sleep with a Humidifier – the throat dryness won’t get any better in a dry room. Sleeping with a humidifier or keeping it in a room with you during the can moisten the throat and drastically lessen the urge to cough
• Hard Candy and Lozenges – For instant relief, lozenges and anything that keeps the throat moist are a great way to suppress the cough, at least for a few minutes. However, keep in mind that lozenges are not recommended or young children as they pose a choking hazard, and many contain ingredients that are unsafe for children of a certain age. Use your discretion and do your research on the safest types of
• OTC Cough Medicine – Yes, you can still use cough medicines for a ticklish dry cough, but as always, it’s most effective and safe if you choose cough medicines that are made with natural ingredients, like lemon and honey, and skip the harmful and potentially dangerous ingredients like Dextromethorphan (DXM) as it has been deemed unsafe for young children. When it comes to safe and natural ingredients, the old saying,“what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” definitely applies.

Do you have any methods of relief for that irritating dry cough? Share with us below.