Editor—Gatrad and Sheikh wrote that there is some evidence that whey hydrolysate milk and dicycloverine can help in infants with colic.1 However, dicycloverine is associated with an increased risk of anticholinergic side effects. The cited reference by Garrison and Christakis concludes: “Merrell Dow, the manufacturer, no longer considers infant colic an indication for dicyclomine and has contraindicated its use in infants younger than 6 months.”2
Since Gatrad and Sheikh discuss persistent crying in babies—who are below 6 months of age—it would have been preferable not to mention dicycloverine as a therapeutic option at all.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Gatrad AR, Sheikh A. Persistent crying in babies. BMJ 2004;328: 330. (7 February.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Garrison MM, Christakis DA. A systematic review of treatments for infantile colic. Pediatrics 2000;106: 184-90. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]