http://www.delsym.com/docs/Adult-12-Hour_Cough_Liquid_Orange_Drug_Facts.pdf
Have a look at this all-metric Drug Facts panel. I searched the FDA site to see where the metric-only requirement is stated and how pervasive it is, but the maker of Delsym cannot unilaterally make changes in the Drug Facts panel, because its content is governed by FDA. If this is a new norm for U.S. labeling of OTC oral liquid medications, then we have just seen the death of household units in routine American life regarding these products, and I'm not holding a funeral. Medication safety has just taken a giant leap forward with the metrication of dose measurement. And, thanks to Drug Facts, the milliliter and its symbol are going to be household words with the Drug Facts statement "mL = milliliter." If somebody has recently purchased a bottle of Delsym, please let us know whether or not the accompanying dose cup is scaled in milliliters only. This change is apparently not limited to childrens' products. This Delsym product is for adults. I saw a similar Drug Facts panel on Children's Mucinex. Both are products of the same UK-based company. Until now, the Drug Facts panel labeling continued to kowtow to tradition when it would "in each 5 mL teaspoonful." No more. This is very new, so you will still see "5 mL teaspoonful" on a lot of products if you go shopping this morning. But it looks like the future of U.S. OTC liquids is metric....at last! Paul Trusten, Registered Pharmacist Vice President and Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association, Inc. Midland, Texas, USA +1(432)528-7724 www.metric.org [email protected]
