Ohio parents with teething children will have to look for alternatives to Hyland’s teething tablets and gel. The Food and Drug Administration has sent out a warning that the products should not be used. The federal agency made the decision after investigating 10 deaths of children as well as 400 worrisome events. The manufacturer of the teething medication chose to cease distribution of the products in the United States.
A statement from the company, however, emphasized that the FDA had not sent any official notice about the possible adverse effects. No medical or statistical data regarding the claims of danger had been shared, and the investigation by regulators had not been completed. Although an official recall on the baby teething products has not been issued, CVS and Walgreens have pulled the products.
In addition to the deaths possibly linked to these products in the previous six years, other children have experienced vomiting, lethargy, fever, sleepiness, shortness of breath and tremors. During a previous recall after an FDA safety alert in 2010, lab testing indicated that the amounts of belladonna in the tablets had been inconsistent. The symptoms experienced by some children matched those associated with belladonna toxicity.
The outcome of this investigation could potentially expose Hyland’s to liability for the harm that the product has caused. When dangerous products lead to an injury, the manufacturer of the product as well as its distributor could be held financially responsible in a product liability lawsuit naming them as defendants. People who have been affected in such a manner may want to discuss their situations with an attorney who has experience with these types of matters.