Caution Advised When Giving children Over-the-Counter Medications

Although nonprescription drugs may provide relief, caution is needed when treating pediatric patients with such remedies.

"Children are not little adults," stresses Micheline Goldwire, clinical pharmacy specialist at Texas Children's Hospital, who explains why youngsters' special systems should be cared for accordingly. "Medications for children are often dosed per body weight - not tablet size, as is the case with adult over-the-counter medications. Small changes in a child's medication dose may result in unwanted adverse effects."

In addition to weight, age is a factor. "Many over-the-counter medications have dosing for children more than 6 years of age," Goldwire says. "Fewer have dosing for children less than 2 years of age, and still fewer have dosing for infants. Do not assume that your 3-year-old should just take half the dose that is recommended for your 6-year-old. Consult your pharmacist or physician with questions."

When an infant - defined as a child less than 12 months of age - is ill enough for an over-the-counter medication, Goldwire advises contacting his or her physician immediately.

Other practical, non-prescription drug guidelines include:

• Paying close attention to dosage instructions and advising caregivers to do the same.
• Treating only the symptoms your child is experiencing.
• Use single-ingredient products, if possible. If your child has a fever and runny nose, do not use a product that can treat fever, runny nose, stuffiness and cough, such as multi-symptom cough liquid. The ingredients your child does not need may cause unwanted side effects.
• Being aware of inert (inactive) ingredients. Many liquid preparations contain alcohol which may make your child irritable; sorbitol or corn syrup, which may cause diarrhea; various colorants (tartrazine); taste enhancers (saccharin, aspartame); and preservatives (methyl parabens, Edietic Acid or EDTA).
• Reading labels carefully, noting the dose, active ingredients, and inactive ingredients. When you have questions, contact the pharmacist or your physician.
• Finally, Goldwire suggests using non-pharmacological methods whenever possible. "For example, if you are weaning your 8-month-old child from breast milk to formula and constipation results, do not reach for the children's milk of magnesia, which supplies dosing for children 2 or less than 2 years old," she says. "Instead, increase the juice content or the fruit servings in your baby's diet. The 100 percent frozen fruit juice pops are a big hit with little ones, especially those getting teeth.

- VICKI THOMSON

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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