Giving Over-the-Counter Medicine to Kids

It's that sniffling, sneezing time of year. You pick up some cough medicine and some acetaminophen for your child from the store. You may think over-the-counter (OTC) medications are perfectly safe, but, if used incorrectly, they can hurt your child.

OTC products tend to have a lower risk of side effects, but they are still chemicals and carry some of the same risks as prescription drugs. It's easy to make a mistake when giving OTC medications to your child, but there are ways to help avoid errors:

• Never guess when buying OTC products. Your child's health is too important. Note your child's symptoms and talk to the pharmacist or doctor. Be sure to follow their advice on whether or not it is safe to give a certain medication to your child based on your child's symptoms, age, weight and underlying medical condition.

• Don't give OTC cold and cough medicines to children under 2 without talking to your doctor first. After several deaths and many near deaths, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning to parents to stay away from cold and cough remedies for children under 2.

• Go by your child's weight when measuring the dose. This is the best way to decide on the right amount of medicine. Don't guess. Weigh your child beforehand.

• Read and follow directions. The Drug Facts label gives you precise instructions. If the label directs you to give the medicine every four hours, follow those instructions. Giving too much medicine or giving it too often won't make an OTC medication work any faster or better and can be dangerous.

• Use the measuring device that comes with the medicine. Your kitchen spoons vary in size and aren't accurate for measuring dosage. Don't use measuring devices from other products - they were designed for another drug. Measure medication on a level surface.

• If your child is taking a prescription medication, or has other medical conditions, check with the doctor or pharmacist before administering any OTC products. Make sure there are no drug interactions.

• Don't give your child medication that is meant for an infant. Infant formulas have stronger concentrations. Plus, you may be tempted to give more of the medicine to account for your child's age.

• Don't give your child OTC medications meant for adults. Not all adult medications are safe for children. Aspirin, for example, can cause Reye's syndrome, leading to brain injury, liver failure and death. Also, you'll be guessing at the dose. Children's bodies handle medicine differently than adults.

• Ask your doctor if there are any OTC products your child should not use. Ibuprofen, for example, can worsen asthma in some people.

• If using multiple OTC medicines, watch for duplicate ingredients. Make sure you do not give your child more than one product with the same active ingredient, such as acetaminophen. Many cough and cold preparations have the same active ingredient as pain relievers. That means your child may get twice the dosage, which could lead to an overdose. For acetaminophen, for example, an overdose can cause permanent liver damage.

• Check for usage duplication. Two cold medicines may have different active ingredients, but both help reduce fever. That's called usage duplication. Read the Drug Facts label and compare.

• Never call any medicine candy. Tell your child not to touch medicine, and keep all medications far from reach. Bottles should have childproof caps.

• Use a log to keep track of the medications you give your child.

If your child does not begin to feel better, call your pediatrician.

Related Articles Rx Questions? Ask Your Pharmacist How Well Do Your Medicines Mix? Own Your Own Health Pain Pills: Watch Child Dosage

External Sources The National Council on Patient Information and Education The American Academy of Family Physicians

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

Search