Children and Prescriptions

When giving prescription medication to a child, it's important for parents and caregivers to fully understand what the medicine does and how it should be used. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some the questions you might want to ask the pediatrician include:

• the name of the medicine and what the medicine is for
• the dose (amount) of the medicine to give
• the number of times a day the medicine should be given
• the times of the day the medicine should be given
• should my child take the medicine with food or on an empty stomach
• how soon will the medicine start working
• for how long will the medicine be used
• what if my child misses a dose
• what side effects should I watch out for
• how to give the medicine, should it be given crushed or whole for example

If medication has been prescribed in pill form, some parents crush the pill to mix it in with food. However always ask the doctor before altering any medication like that; some medicine really needs to be swallowed whole to work properly.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) also suggests that when the dosage time is "every six hours," that doesn't mean you have to wake your child up in the middle of the night. It usually means 4 times a day, for example, with meals and at bedtime. Every 8 hours means 3 times a day.

If the medication is in liquid form, make sure you follow the dosage instructions exactly. Don't confuse the abbreviations for teaspoon (tsp.) and tablespoon (tbs.). In fact, since kitchen teaspoons and tablespoons can vary in size, you might find that a dosage cup can be more accurate. If you do use a dosage cup or dropper, measure at eye level for greatest accuracy.

AAFP also has these other suggestions:

• Make sure you get the information sheet on the medication.
• Make sure the child's name is clearly on the medicine so you don't get mixed up.
• Ask the doctor to put on the prescription what it's for. That will help the pharmacist know he is giving the right medication.
• Give the right dosage, for the correct period of time. Too much or not enough for the entire time required can cause problems.
• Use an appropriate measuring device. A kitchen teaspoon isn't very accurate.

Once your child starts taking the medicine, contact your doctor if any unusual symptoms develop. (Read about "Poison Prevention") Make sure you keep a record of this for future reference. And even once your child starts feeling better, don't stop the medication without the doctor's OK.

Unless you discuss it with your physician first, it is not a good idea to mix over-the-counter drugs with prescription medications. Many OTC drugs contain some of the same components, such as acetaminophen. Adding OTC drugs may result in an overdose.

Related Information:

    Medicine Safety

    Antibiotics

    Herbal Precautions