By now you may have heard that the FDA recommends that over-the-counter cold and cough medicine not be used in children under 2 and they’re still debating on it’s use in children under 11. The reason is that serious life threatening side effects can occur. They sited that from 1969 to 2006, at least 54 children died after taking over the counter decongestants, and 69 died after taking over-the-counter antihistamines..