Path to improved well being
There are two sorts of medicines. Prescription medicines are medicines you get out of your physician. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you should buy with out a prescription out of your physician.
Your little one may have each sorts of medication. Know what you need to do every step of the way in which to assist your little one really feel higher and maintain them protected.
If you go to the physician, be sure you inform all of them medicines your little one is taking (each prescription and OTC). Additionally listing any drug allergic reactions your little one has. In case your physician desires to prescribe medication to your little one, ask how a lot it could value. If the drugs is just too costly, your physician might counsel one other medication that’s extra inexpensive. All this data will assist your physician determine the best medication to your little one.
When you get a prescription out of your physician, take it to the pharmacy to be stuffed. However earlier than leaving the physician’s workplace, ask your physician to notice on the prescription kind what the drugs is for. This can assist the pharmacist double-check the prescription. Most physician’s places of work additionally provide to name the prescription in to the pharmacy or ship it electronically, so that you gained’t should do it.
The pharmacist ought to let you know when and how one can give your little one the drugs. For liquid medicines, the pharmacist might offer you a measuring machine. They need to present you the best means to make use of it.
Your pharmacist ought to reply any questions you may have concerning the medication. Ask the pharmacist for a medication data sheet. It’ll let you know concerning the medication.
At house, make certain you solely give the prescribed or really useful dose of medication. Giving an excessive amount of medication may be dangerous.
Use the measuring machine from the pharmacist each time you give the drugs. An strange kitchen teaspoon is not going to maintain the correct quantity of medication.
Protecting monitor of medication
It might be useful to maintain a pocket book of details about the medicines your little one takes. Do that for each prescription medicines and OTC medicines. Info on the listing ought to embody:
- The title of the drugs
- What it’s for
- The dose (quantity) of the drugs to offer
- What measuring machine to make use of
- The variety of occasions a day the drugs ought to be given
- What time the drugs ought to be given
- Whether or not the drugs ought to be given with meals
- The variety of days the drugs ought to be given
- How you’ll know the drugs is working
- The commonest and vital unwanted side effects
- In case your little one has any response to the drugs
Notice: When a drug information label on the drugs says to offer it “each 6 hours,” that usually means 4 occasions a day (for instance, at breakfast, lunch, supper, and bedtime). It doesn’t normally imply it’s a must to wake the kid up within the evening to take medication. “Take each 8 hours” usually means the drugs ought to be taken 3 occasions a day.
The right way to give your little one medication
Generally, your little one might not need to take medication. It might style unhealthy, your little one might not need to swallow drugs, or your little one might merely not need to take it. Attempt these tricks to get your little one to take medication:
- Because the grownup, you ought to be constructive and upbeat. Make taking medication an pleasurable time to your little one.
- In case your little one has stuffed animals or dolls, let her or him give the animal or doll faux medication first. Which will make your little one extra prepared to take the actual medication.
- If the drugs tastes unhealthy, assist disguise its taste. Give your little one a small little bit of one thing they like, akin to a sip of juice or a small cracker. Then give a little bit of the drugs. Then give a bit extra juice or cracker. Repeat till the dose of medication is taken.
- Ask your physician if the drugs is out there in different types. For instance, in case your little one has a tough time swallowing drugs, ask if the drugs is out there as a chewable or liquid.
- Ask your pharmacist so as to add taste to liquid medicines. Let your little one select the flavour. They could be extra prepared to take the drugs in the event that they had been in a position to choose the flavour.
- Some medicines may be combined with meals or drink, akin to juice or pudding. This makes them style higher. Ask your physician in case your little one’s medication may be combined like this.
- Provide your little one a sticker or different deal with as a reward after taking the drugs.
- For older youngsters, provide to allow them to suck on ice chips earlier than taking the drugs. This will numb the style buds and conceal the drugs’s unhealthy style.
- Clarify to your little one how medication may also help her or him keep wholesome or really feel higher.
Protected storage of medication
It’s vital that you just safely retailer medicines at house. Retailer all medicines up and away, out of sight and attain of younger youngsters. Put liquid medicines within the fridge (if required) earlier than giving them to your little one.
Protecting different medicines in a cool, dry place will assist forestall them from turning into much less efficient earlier than their expiration dates. Don’t retailer medicines in loos or toilet cupboards, which are sometimes sizzling and humid. Youngsters shouldn’t be allowed to play with medication bottles, even when they’re empty.
Issues to contemplate
Not all OTC medicines are protected for kids to make use of. Name your physician earlier than giving your little one an OTC medication. Speak together with your physician earlier than giving your little one two medicines at one time.
Even when your little one begins to really feel higher, proceed to offer as a lot medication as your physician prescribed. Stopping the drugs earlier than it’s all gone might trigger your little one to get sick once more. When you’re giving your little one an OTC medication, it’s normally okay to cease when your little one feels higher.
When you use a syringe to offer liquid medication to your little one, first throw away the small cap of the syringe. Youngsters can choke on these caps.
Name your physician if a medication your little one is taking isn’t working as anticipated. For instance, if ache isn’t going away with the urged OTC medication. Or if taking an antibiotic for a couple of days isn’t making your little one really feel higher. Additionally, name your physician immediately in case your little one has a nasty response to a medication.
Inquiries to ask your physician
- What is that this medication for?
- How a lot will the prescription value?
- How lengthy will my little one should be on this medication?
- What are the unwanted side effects of this medication?
- How quickly ought to my little one really feel higher after taking this medication?
- Is that this medication out there in one other kind?
- Is it okay to offer this medication with meals?
