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FDA: Throw out teething remedies with belladonna

The FDA recently reported that high quantities of Belladonna had been found in homeopathic teething tablets, warning of its potential risk to infants and children.

    by Gary A. Emmett, M.D., F.A.A.P
    Published 

I have previously warned about avoiding teething remedies, and now there is a new warning issued last Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that high quantities of Belladonna had been found in homeopathic teething tablets, warning of its potential risk to infants and children. Belladonna is a potentially poisonous extract of the Deadly Nightshade plant used in beauty products and sleeping aids.

The FDA also stated that it has "asked Standard Homeopathic Co, the manufacturer of Hyland's teething products, to recall its homeopathic teething tablets from the market," but "the company did not agree." In November 2016, Raritan Pharmaceuticals agreed to recall three belladonna-containing homeopathic products, two of which were marketed by CVS, according to the FDA.

Hyland's said it declined to recall the teething products because it had discontinued them in October last year after the FDA in September re-opened a 2010 investigation into their safety. This had followed another report of a child who had seizure after using the teething tablets. In a letter to consumers, the company wrote it had "chosen to discontinue the distribution of our Hyland's teething medicines in the United States."

At this time "we don't see any additional action to be necessary," Hyland's spokeswoman Mary Borneman told Reuters last week.

Belladonna—which means beautiful woman in Italian—causes the pupils to become large, and also can cause the child's blood pressure to drop as the child's blood vessels also dilate.  This dropping blood pressure can cause fainting or even death in extreme cases.  Blurred vision, dry mouth and hallucinations are common in overdose.

To cause harm, the caregiver would have to overdose the child, but teething can be very disruptive and not everyone reads the instructions. If treatment is needed, please use only ice and mild pressure on the child's gums and maybe some acetaminophen (Tylenol).

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