1/2/2010 10:00:00 PM More to children's medication than just a spoonful of sugar
Yavapai Regional Medical Center
Children aren't miniature adults - and that's apparent when it comes to medication. Important recommendations to follow include:
• Read the label. Make sure the product is appropriate for your child's age. If your child is taking multiple over-the-counter (OTC) medications, it's a good idea to read the labels for the "active ingredients" to make sure your child isn't getting an overdose of an ingredient that's in more than one OTC medication.
• Watch for side effects. Children can react differently than adults to drugs. Weigh the benefits of treating your child's symptoms against the risks of side effects.
• Give the proper dose. Carefully follow label directions for how much and how often to give medicine. Use only the measuring device that comes with a medication, as instructed. For prescriptions, finish all of the medicine (especially antibiotics), even if your child starts to feel better. The infection can come back if the medicine is stopped too soon.
• Be safe. Choose OTC medicines with child-resistant safety caps, close caps tightly and store out of sight and reach. This goes for vitamins, multivitamins and herbal products, too.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued an advisory strongly recommending that over-the-counter cough and cold medications not be given to infants and children under two years old because of the risk of life-threatening side effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports this recommendation and urges parents to seek safer ways to soothe infants and young children suffering from colds and coughs.
If you have any questions about OTC or prescription medications for your child, don't hesitate to call your pediatrician or pharmacist.
Some Medications Require Extra Caution
Take care when giving the following medications to children:
• Aspirin. Do not give aspirin to children ages 18 or younger, unless specifically recommended by your child's pediatrician, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome - a rare disease that causes severe damage to the brain and liver.
• OTC cough and cold medicines. These should not be given to children under age 2. Check with your pediatrician before giving cold medicine to older children.
• Liquid Tylenol for infants. This medication (also known by its generic name, acetaminophen) is highly concentrated in liquid form, so it's extremely important to follow the label instructions.
If your little one has accidentally ingested medications - or if you think that he or she might have - call the nationwide poison center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-222-1222.
