Use of aspirin among children under 16 is to be strictly limited under controls to cut the risk of a rare disease that can lead to seizures, coma, liver failure and death.
Household brands such as Anadin, Aspro, Beechams and Disprin will have to change their labels and patient information over six months as part of precautions being introduced by the government's medicines control agency.
A publicity campaign is being planned before the start of next winter's flu season to explain the measures to teenagers and parents. Young people with any condition that involves fever and/or raised temperature, including flu and feverish colds, will be warned to take an alternative containing paracetamol or ibuprofen.
The over-the-counter medicines industry yesterday pointed to the "significant contribution" aspirin made to family healthcare and to its record as an effective painkiller for more than a century.
Most families are now aware that children under 12 should not be given aspirin, except under medical advice for conditions such as juvenile arthritis, and there are several child medicines available. This measure was agreed in 1986.
But the committee on the safety of medicines, which reports to the medicines agency, has now prompted further changes after discussions with the manufacturers.
Incidence of Reye's syndrome, the disease which has prompted the new rules, has declined in Britain, although there have been 17 cases associated with the use of aspirin since 1986. Of these, seven were in children under 12 and 10 in children over 12.
The MCA said last night: "Aspirin is a safe and effective painkilling medicine when used appropriately, as well as an important medicine in the prevention of heart disease or strokes. There is no risk of Reye's syndrome in older adults who should continue to take aspirin in accordance with advice from their doctors and other health professionals."
It said the new measures were proportionate to the risk "which in this case is very small". Children between 12 and 16 could still use aspirin for other problems including muscle and period pains or strains. There had been no evidence that paracetamol or ibuprofen increased the risk of Reye's syndrome.
Aspirin products advertise a bewildering number of conditions they are suitable for treating.
The Proprietary Association of Great Britain, representing manufacturers, recognised yesterday that more consistency would be needed in the new labels and product information.
