FDA Issues Warning on Teething Tablets

Bayberry Dental Care is a family practice and often treats young children. As such, we are concerned with the safety of products for teething infants. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about a popular line of tablets which contains inconsistent amounts of a dangerous plant extract an recommended that they be disposed of.

Atropa belladonna, also known as nightshade, is an herb which has been known since ancient times for its sedative effects. However, it can also cause hallucinations, shortness of breath, and fatal seizures. Homeopathic treatments often make use of small quantities of belladonna and usually do not require FDA approval. In 2010, Hyland’s teething tablets, manufactured by the Standard Homeopathic Company, were found to be inconsistent in the amount of belladonna they contained. The products were briefly removed from the market but returned after the company claimed to have changed their recipe.

Last fall, Hyland’s teething tablets were removed again, but they have not yet been formally recalled. The FDA claimed in a press release on January 27, 2017, that the tablets contain a higher amount of belladonna extract than is labeled. The Standard Homeopathic Company argues that no cases of poisoning have been conclusively linked to its products, but the FDA says belladonna is not safe for infants and that investigationsinto ten deaths are ongoing. Belladonna-laced products manufactured by Raritan Pharmaceuticals, another homeopathic company, were recalled last fall.
Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit BayberryDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.