A new placebo pill aimed at children has been criticised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

Obecalp, placebo spelled backwards, is a cherry flavored chewable tablet which is already available in the US for $6 per bottle of 50 tablets. Marketed as a dietary supplement rather than a medication it is not required to undergo clinical trials.

“The RPSGB is concerned that this product is due to be made available on the UK market as a placebo pill to give to children,” said Jayne Lawrence, chief scientist of RPSGB.

“We are also concerned that giving a child the pill reinforces the wrong message - that tablets are the answer for all of life’s aches and pains.”

Obecalp was developed by mother of three children, Jennifer Buettner, from Maryland, USA with the aim of empowering parents whenever their children complain of minor illness and to avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics and other drugs. It is available as a chewable or swallowable cherry tablet (325mg).

www.rpsgb.org.uk

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