The chief physicians of paediatric clinics in Turku and Tampere say that children's cough medications should be taken off the market.
According to Professor Olli Ruuskanen and Professor Matti Korppi, paediatricians have long known that the cough medications prescribed to children are ineffective.
Both say that many cough medications affect the central nervous system and can cause heart arrhythmia, interfere with brain functions and even cause encephalopathy, or brain disorders.
The two presented their views in an editorial published in the journal of the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim.
The pharmaceutical industry in the United States withdrew over-the-country preparations for under-two year-olds following similar claims there.
Around 20 million euros worth of cough medicines are sold in Finland annually.