Tag Archives: over the counter medications

Be careful to give accurate dosage amounts to children

 

A new study in Pediatrics, a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), shows that a surprisingly large percentage of adults give the wrong dosages of medications to children and infants.

 

Incorrect dosages can be harmful, even dangerous.  When the pediatrician writes a prescription or recommends an over-the-counter drug, they take into account a child’s health, age, size and other factors, including other medications he may be taking.  It’s important to be accurate when dispensing those meds.

 

The main problem, according to the study, has to do with measuring.

 

  • Adults who measured with teaspoons and tablespoons were twice as likely to make errors as those who used milliliters as their measuring standard.
  • Never just pull out a spoon from your flatware or plastic ware to measure medicine.  These spoons can vary widely in the amount of liquid they hold.
  • Purchase a measuring instrument (dropper or spoon) in the pharmacy department of your discount or grocery store.  Make sure it uses milliliters for measurement.
  • Measure accurately.
  • Keep a written record of when you’ve given a medication and how much.  Many people unintentionally create problems when one person in the household dispenses a drug, not knowing that someone else has already given the medicine.

 

If you’re ever unsure about a dosage, call your pediatrician’s office.  Safety with drugs, whether prescription or OTC, is essential.

 

© 2014, MBS Writing Services, all rights reserved

 

A new take on whether or not to give Tylenol (Acetaminophen) right before or after a vaccination

A new study has pediatricians (including us) rethinking previous recommendations about acetaminophen and vaccinations.

Often, children get a slight fever after a vaccination.  This is a normal response of the immune system, reacting to the presence of something new in the body.  Physicians have long recommended taking acetaminophen before, and every four hours for the first 24 after a vaccination to prevent or reduce fever and make the child more comfortable.

The study, reported in The Lancet, finds that giving acetaminophen does indeed decrease fever after the vaccination.  But there was an unexpected finding:  acetaminophen appears also to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

More studies are required, and the reasons behind this lowered effectiveness are not fully understood.  However, for now we believe it is best NOT to give doses of acetaminophen right before or within the first 24 hours after the vaccine.  If, though, your child exhibits a fever of 101º or above, or experiences soreness, then it’s okay to give a small amount to ease those symptoms.

Speaking of amounts, Tylenol and other makers/distributors of acetaminophen have recently changed the concentration of their product for infants.  It’s now the SAME as the concentration for children, but the dosage is of course smaller.  So be sure not to use a medicine dropper from an old infant Tylenol bottle with the new infant Tylenol concentration.

Always check dosing instructions on any over the counter medication.

Stay healthy, and don’t forget to keep your immunizations up to date!

Corinne, age 3

Corinne, age 3

 

© 2013, Melissa Bane Sevier