Children and Medicine
You must be vigilant when giving medication to children. Whether the medication is prescription or over-the-counter (OTC), dispensing medicine properly to children is of the utmost importance. If they are given incorrectly, drugs have the potential to be ineffective or harmful.
"Read the label, and read it thoroughly," says Debra Bowen M.D., an internist and director of FDA's medical review staff in the Office of OTC Drugs. "There are many warnings on there, and they were written for a reason. Don't use the product until you understand what's on the label."
Before accepting a prescription you should ask your doctor or pharmacist the following questions:
- What is the drug and what is it for?
- Will there be a problem with other drugs my child is taking?
- How often and for how long does my child need to take it?
- What if my child misses a dose?
- What side effects does it have and how soon will it start working?
- Once you receive the prescription, check it. Does it look right? Is it the color and size you were expecting?
- If it is an OTC product, check for signs of tampering.
The younger your child is the more difficult it is to give him medicine. Children under the age of two should not be given any over-the-counter drug without the doctor's OK. He will be able to tell you what a safe dosage is, and what side effects your child will experience. You should watch for side effects no matter what medication you are giving your child. If you are not happy with what is happening with your child, do not hesitate to contact your doctor. It is better to make extra calls to your doctor than to have your child experience a bad reaction to the drug.
Make sure when medicating your child that you give the right dosage at the right time interval. Prescription and OTC drugs come with specific instructions for a reason, over-dosage can occur. Also, be sure to read measuring instruments carefully, and follow this advice in regards to common dosing instruments.
- Syringes: Convenient for infants who cannot drink from a cup, syringes can squirt medicine into the back of the child's mouth where it is less likely to spill out. They are also convenient for storing a future dose. Always be sure to remove the cap on the end, and if you are using a hypodermic syringe remember to remove the needle.
- Droppers: Safe and easy to use with infants and children who are too young to drink from a cup. Measure at eye level and administer quickly, so you do not lose any medication.
- Cylindrical Dosing Spoons: Convenient for children who can drink from a cup, but are likely to spill. They resemble a test tube with a small spoon formed at the top end.
- Dosage Cups: Great for children who can drink from a cup without spilling. Be sure to check the numbers carefully on the side, and measure out liquid medicine with the cup at eye level on a flat surface.
Another important factor to consider when medicating children is to stay away from aspirin and products containing aspirin. The use of aspirin has been associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause death. In order to safely reduce fever in children, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen products.
