Hello!

Join Login
Learn More

Article Parents Petition To Lift Ban On Popular Colic Mix

By

26 Comment

Hundreds of parents are calling for a ‘ban’ on a popular Australian colic mix to be lifted, but health authorities say their aim is to ‘keep infants safe’.

Described by parents as ‘liquid gold’, Willby’s Wind and Colic Mix has been available for the past 30 years.

Willby's Wind and Colic Mix ban

But the Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA) has now imposed a restriction on Willby’s Compounding Pharmacy, which means it can no longer compound or supply the mix, due to concerns over one of its ingredients – Atropa belladonna.

In a statement Willby’s said telling its customer it was no longer able to supply the popular product was ‘the hardest announcement we’ve had to make in the history of Willby’s’.

“Yesterday we received formal correspondence from the Victorian Pharmacy Authority (VPA) that a condition has been imposed on our pharmacy, with immediate effect, that prevents us from compounding any colic mixes until stringent requirements are met to the satisfaction of the VPA and formulas are changed,” the statement said.

“This means that we are not able to fulfil any more orders for colic mixes. The effect of the condition is that with great regret, we will need to close Willby’s for the foreseeable future.”

Willby's Wind and Colic Mix ban

Earlier this month the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released a safety advisory, saying it has received reports of serious adverse side effects in infants and children that had been given compounded wind and colic products containing Atropa belladonna (belladonna).

The VPA says its decision was informed by its own investigation, as well as multiple safety alerts issued by the TGA.

“Our decision to restrict the compounding of medicines at Willby’s Compounding Pharmacy has not been made lightly, and we are resolute in our decision that we have acted to keep infants in Australia safe,” VPA Chairperson David McConville said.

“Our message to parents and carers is to follow the guidance of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – consult a medical practitioner before giving a compounded colic preparation containing belladonna to an infant”.

The VPA said it’s imposed the condition to prevent serious risk to public health, but may review the condition after ‘specified requirements have been met by the pharmacy’. The Authority also clarified that the decision doesn’t prevent Willby’s Compounding Pharmacy from carrying on a pharmacy business.

Parents Petition For Decision To Be Reversed

Parents are now petitioning for a reversal of the decision, with mum Nicole Morgan creating a Change.org petition that has already attracted a thousand signatures.

“Like precious ‘liquid gold’, Willby’s unique colic mix has brought relief and comfort to countless families for over 30-years,” the petition outlines.

“There’s no greater agony than watching your helpless baby cry inconsolably. A godsend for parents watching their babies’ gut-wrenching struggle with colic, Willby’s mix has proven time and time again to be a critical lifeline.

“We humbly petition the VPA to reconsider their measure and permit Willby’s to continue its compounding services.”

The Willby’s Wind and Colic Facebook page was also inundated from hundreds of parents upset at the decision.

“This is such horrible news, my second son had horrible colic (mainly because he was such a guts!) and Wilby’s was like liquid gold to me. I went from having a screaming baby to a super chilled and settled baby. I suggested it to every mother struggling with colic!,” one mum commented.

“I was on a fast track to developing PND without Willby’s. Saved us 2.5 years ago with my daughter who had colic. It got us through until we figured out the source was a tongue tie. So grateful at the time as it allowed life to not be completely unbearable. It’s awful for families currently using it. I would have been heart broken and anxious,” said another.

The Willby’s team says it will keep working to bring relief to Australian families.

“This may be the end for now, however with so many families struggling without a solution, we feel compelled to find a new way to care for families through the colic journey.”

Share this

Comments

  • There’s gunna be a few restless parents if they can’t help their babies colic

    Reply

  • MMMMMmmmm, time to remix this colic relief and get approval to get this stuff back out there.

    Reply

  • I am confused. If experts are deeming the product safe why on earth are the mums wanting to go against that. They don’t even know if it will work for their baby. I know it’s hard but I think some mums are thinking it will fix the problem…

    Reply

  • If there is any question about safety of a product, definitely temporarily take it off the shelf until tests prove it is safe. I wouldn’t risk it with my child. If all tests prove it is safe and effective, it can always be put back on the market.

    Reply

  • I wonder who is really behind this decision.

    Reply

  • If this product is risky to take for your baby I am happy for them to take it off the market

    Reply

  • Wow just wow! This has been a long known working remedy and saving grace for stuggling families. This is abhorrent. It is known to work when nothing else does. It is all natural and is extremely safe compared to others on the market. I’ve worked in the industry for many many years and this will be a sad day indeed

    Reply

  • Haven’t heard of this brand, but I wouldn’t be using Deadly Nightshade in anything I gave to my baby. Would you dose your child with alcohol? I’ve heard some mums say this works with Colic as well, but it’s another thing I doubt any of us would use, so why use this colic solution.

    Reply

  • Never heard of it, but if they have evidence that it’s unsafe, why are people petitioning against the decision?

    Reply

  • I’ve never heard of this brand or mix. My son experienced colic for the first 12 months of his life and was on a prescription of phenobarb and atropine that had to be formulated every 2 weeks at RCH. They no longer provided the mixture mainstream but was approved and made by a paediatrician. It was a godsend for us.

    Reply

  • It’s not something I’ve even heard of. I am sure they are taking it off the market for a reason. I’d be trusting that decision and not risking my child.

    Reply

  • Petitioning for the right to poison their children. How pathetic and ignorant. Bella Donna is a poison. The reason it works ir because it is poison. Don’t ask for it back.

    • Yes, you would think everyone would want safety first !

    Reply

  • My friend used this product and it was the only thing that helped her colic child. She was devastated to see it go.

    Reply

  • I’ve never heard of this product before – is it only in Victoria?!

    Reply

  • I’ve never heard of this product – but surely people would want to err on the side of safety?

    • I agree; it is a good idea to be cautious.

    Reply

  • My daughter didn’t suffer from Colic so I have never really known much about it or the medications on offer.

    Reply

  • Never heard of this product.

    Reply

  • I remember my mum gave my youngest sister homeopathic belladonna drops, since she had a lot of colic as baby

    Reply

  • Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a toxic perennial herbaceous plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna

    • Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade)
      The alkaloids in Atropa can cross the blood–brain barrier to act on central cholinergic synapses, causing ataxia, disorientation, short-term memory loss, coma, and death.
      Though widely regarded as unsafe, belladonna is taken by mouth as a sedative, to stop bronchial spasms in asthma and whooping cough, and as a cold and hay fever remedy. It is also used for Parkinson’s disease, colic, inflammatory bowel disease, motion sickness, and as a painkiller.

    Reply

  • If theres a chance of risk and reported side effects, wouldnt this be the right approach until they can figure another way to make it more safer?

    Reply
Post a comment

To post a review/comment please join us or login so we can allocate your points.

Join Login

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join