Parents with teething children must be sure to do their research before buying products. On Jan. 29, the Food and Drug Administration found large amounts of toxic substances in teething tablets.
The FDA warns that homeopathic teething tablets with belladonna are a high risk for infants and children. Researchers found that Hyland’s products containing belladonna contain much more than what the company claims on the label.
Standard Homeopathic Company, which produces Hyland’s homeopathic teething products, manufactures these products. Currently, the company says they will not recall the items, but the FDA urges consumers to not use them.
One of the investigators, Dr. Janet Woodcook, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said belladonna puts children at an unnecessary risk.
“The body’s response to belladonna in children under two years of age is unpredictable,” she said. “We recommend that parents and caregivers not give these homeopathic teething tablets to children. Seek advice from health care professionals for safe alternatives.”
Researchers create Belladonna remedies from the leaf and root of the belladonna plant. The plant is used for multiple ailments. Some of these include asthma, whooping cough, Parkison’s Disease, joint pain, nerve pain, and sciatica. According to WebMD, the plant works by blocking parts of the nervous system. This alleviates sweating, urination, digestive issues, and more.
WebMD also reports that belladonna is likely unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Side effects include congestive heart failure, constipation, fever, stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and more.
The FDA do not currently evaluate or approve homeopathic teething products. They claim belladonna-based tablets have no proven health benefit. The agency warns parents against using them based on consumer reports. According to the Hyland’s website, they no longer distribute teething tablets in the United States.
If a child experiences seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, or other symptoms after using the product, caregivers should seek help immediately. Caregivers who witness problems caused by the products should contact the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
