Q & A: Children's Cold Medicines

Drugmakers that withdrew their products all have different ways to make you whole:

* Little Colds: Call 800-754-8853 for a coupon for a non-medicated cold product.

* PediaCare and Tylenol products: Call 877-895-3665 or download a coupon for $5 at http://www.tylenol.com; click on "Learn more."

* Dimetapp and Robitussin: Call 800-762-4675 for a $7.99 coupon for a replacement product.

* Triaminic: Return the product, used or unused, to the store where you bought it; no receipt is needed for a refund. See other products at http://www.triaminic.com.

If you decide to chuck a cold product, take care to avoid its landing in streams or rivers, urges the American Pharmacists Association. Don't flush it down the toilet. Before you toss it, dilute it with water and mix it with sawdust, cat litter or coffee grounds.

Keep it far from a child or pet, says Mitchel Rothholz, the association's chief of staff.

What about refunds on products for older kids?

"Companies aren't thinking about that right now," says Elizabeth Funderburk, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the trade association for makers of nonprescription drugs. "They're hoping those products stay on the market."

Francesca Lunzer Kritz contributed to this report with the refunds answer. Jennifer Huget is a frequent contributor to Health. Comments:health@washpost.com.