Kimber Michelle Brown, 5-Year-Old, Dies From Cold Medicine Overdose

Medical examiners in La Plata County in southwest Colorado have ruled that Kimber Michelle Brown, a 5-year-old girl who died in February, had toxic levels of two over-the-counter medications in her system at the time of her death, the Associated Press reports.

A toxicology report on Brown found that the kindergartner had two-and-half times the maximum recommended dose of dextromethorphan -- the active ingredient in Robitussin, Vicks and many other over-the-counter cold medications -- in addition to high levels of the anti-allergy medicine Cetirizine.

"In my opinion, the combination of these drugs -- which were the ingredients of the over-the-counter medications with which Kimber was being treated -- caused her death," La Plata County Coroner Dr. Carol Huser wrote in an autopsy reported obtained by the Durango Herald.

Brown was staying with her grandmother, 59-year-old Linda Sheets, in early February when she began exhibiting flu-like symptoms, a sheriff’s department spokesman told the Herald.

Huser told the paper that on the evening before her death on Sunday, Feb. 12, the girl had been complaining of leg pain, cramps and muscle spasms that would indicate that she had toxic levels of medication in her system.

Investigators are unsure whether Sheets accidentally gave her granddaughter too much medicine or if the girl ingested the substances after finding them on the counter, where they were in reach. An investigation is ongoing.

According KWGN-TV, the death is currently being treated as an accident.

Read the Durango Herald's full report on Brown's death and her obituary for more on this story.

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Comments

[PJ Rypinski]

10:50 AM on 05/11/2012

I suspect this and other improper uses of over the counter meds are a contributor to so called crib deaths.

[TheJakeyl88]

01:47 AM on 04/18/2012

Dextromethorphan is quite safe, even in around 1 Gram doses. I think the LD50 for a healthy adult is around 1500 mg but don't quote me on that. This is really fear mongering the way they blame it on cold medicine, say its in most common OTC cold products, and say it was only 2x the dosage. A normal dose is 15mg. Respiratory depression can occur, you can stop breathing or seize but you are talking a minimum of 20 times that dosage. One full bottle of most Dextromethorphan based medicines are roughly 360 mg which a 150 pound person can safely ingest without risk of death. The problem comes from the fillers which can cause much stress on the kidneys and liver. The allergy medicine isn't one of the common ones you see, like Diphenhydramine, but these cause far more problems than the common cold medicine, with the common ingredient Dextromethorphan. There must be an underlying health issue, or for some reason they are trying to scare people. Dextromethorphan is safe, even at 2-3 times the dose. Education is a must! Mixing two safe compounds can create deadly interactions and deadly respiratory depression and low blood pressure.

[Nina Ongpin-Buhay]

10:31 PM on 04/17/2012

To all mamas and papas: beware what you keep within the reach of your children!

[sadwitness]

06:12 PM on 04/17/2012

Hey, what if, instead of blaming the caregiver, we use compassion and common sense? Anyone who would put down a grandmother just trying to care for a sick child is truly below contempt, especially when that facts are largely unknown. I would not be surprised to find that this child did not have access to adequate health care- welcome to the USA where good health is only for the wealthy.

[Johnson Jennifer]

02:08 PM on 04/17/2012

Its very sad... mistakes can happen unfortunatly, some people's bodies can react different to things... very unfortunate.

[Leigh Arnott]

11:12 AM on 04/17/2012

This just made me cry, I can't believe how ignorant parents/caregivers can be. Instead of comforting their kids, I've heard of people doubling dosing kids just to make sure they go to sleep...I think I'm going to stop reading the American news, it's just way too over the top sad, sad, sad....We have our tragedies here in Canada but the US is beyond comprehension anymore...the natural disasters alone in the Midwest, California and it's fires, I could go on and on and on...I feel so sorry for you people.

[sadwitness]

06:09 PM on 04/17/2012

Sounds more like you feel hateful and superior....we need less of that and more compassionate people, so happy that you are where you are. Please do stay there!

[Steffj89]

09:05 AM on 04/17/2012

PUT the childrens cold meds back out and parents wouldn't resort to using adult otc meds for relief from basic symptoms. yes we realize they don't cure them, but they do help decrease the stress and pain that a child feels when sick and it isn't a dr worthy illness.

[isis]

08:39 AM on 04/17/2012

Two and a half times the does and it is fatal? That stuff is pretty toxic. It should come in little pre-measured packets. Not a lot of room for error here.

[xiolableu01]

08:33 AM on 04/17/2012

No matter how you slice, someone didn't the read the label: Not suitable for children under 12 years of age OR Keep out of reach of children.

[Cynthia Allaire]

04:58 AM on 04/17/2012

Colds aren't dangerous, but cold medicine can be. They make the stuff taste good and if the child can figure out where it is, they can usually get to it. Too many of the cold formulas are intended to treat multiple symptoms and this adds to the hazard. Too many adults are semi-literate or inattentive. Don't read the labels. Just don't buy the stuff. For congestion, stop milk consumption, and perhaps use a flower arrangement of eucalyptus leaves on the night stand. For coughs, give lemon and honey. Better nutrition can boost the immune system.

[VanTroi]

07:28 AM on 04/17/2012

The article states she has flu symptoms not cold symptoms. She should have seen a DR if she was that sick, and especially once she started having overdoes symptoms. Medications should not be left within reach of a child ever. I thought those medicines weren't for children that age anyway.

[Meri B Kassner]

04:36 AM on 04/17/2012

Rest In Peace little one.....parents and caregivers PLEASE be very careful when giving children medication.

[Mr Fix]

04:30 AM on 04/17/2012

Investigators are unsure whether Sheets accidentally gave her granddaughter too much medicine or if the girl ingested the substances after finding them on the counter, where they were in reach.

How hard is it to just ask the Grandmother when and how many doses she gave her granddaughter ? I mean come on people. You can;t ask anyone else any questions because the little girl is dead and she can't tell what happened or what she did.

[Mr Fix]

04:22 AM on 04/17/2012

How about reporting the story after the investigation has been concluded with facts instead of speculating. Story to be continued I guess.

[zombywulf]

04:12 AM on 04/17/2012

Read the label and keep them out of reach of small children. As they can get the "child proof" cap off easier than you can. Hopefully this was an accidental overdose.

[VanTroi]

07:29 AM on 04/17/2012

My son took a child proof cap off a generic advil bottle at 12 months.