Experience shows that implementation in practice will only take place gradually. But for consumers and physicians alike, the new regulation has a very practical help in store: medicines that have been specifically approved for use in children and adolescents will in future bear a special identification symbol on the packaging. The imprint on the package is intended to indicate at a glance the age group for which a drug has been approved, and there will probably be a total of five age groups.
Corresponding uniform symbols are to be developed by the beginning of next year. After that, pharmaceutical companies will have two years to adapt their packages and package inserts. In principle, however, it remains advisable for parents to always seek advice from a doctor or pharmacist before treating their children with medicines – especially and also if they are “self-prescribed” preparations.
