Medications and Your Infant

Medications and Your Infant

Infants can be more sensitive to medications than older children or adults.

The wrong dosage given or if medications are given at the wrong time it can be disastrous, even fatal.

A lot of over-the-counter medications can be ineffective or even harmful when given to infants.

Always ask your pediatrician before giving an infant medication. Whenever your pediatrician does prescribe a medication for your infant always ask your pharmacist about correct dosage, when to give the medication, and how to give it.

It is also important to ask other information about the medication before giving it to the infant such as the expected effect that the medication will have on the infant, or what side effect might occur after giving the infant the medication.

The pharmacist will also know what other medications may have an adverse reaction to the one that is just being prescribed. This is why it is good to tell your pediatrician and your pharmacist about any other medications that other medical professionals may have prescribed for the infant.

Never give any medication that has been prescribed for someone else to another infant.

It is very important to document any drug reactions your infant has and make sure that all medical personnel including pharmacists know about the drug reactions that the infant has had; including any reactions to anesthesia.

It is important to know how the medication must be given to the infant; is it to be given with food or on an empty stomach? Does the medication need to be refrigerated, or kept at room temperature? Should it be kept out of direct sunlight?

Prednisone Medicine A sublingual medication is one that is given under the tongue where it usually dissolves and is absorbed. Rectal medications are made specifically to be inserted into the rectum. Drugs and Medicine

 

Make sure you have any dispensing system like spoons, droppers or syringes needed to measure and give the medication.

Some medications come with these dispensing systems and sometimes you have to be given them by the pharmacists. Always check the dispensing method before you leave the pharmacists to be sure you have what you need to measure and give the medication correctly.

Medications Drugs If there is family history of medication allergies you are more likely to develop a medication allergy. Make sure you tell your pharmacist about your medication allergy. A medication allergy is caused by an over-sensitive immune system. The individual with a medication allergy has an immune system that attacks the medication as if it were a harmful substance. Drugs and Medicine

Make sure you are shown how to measure the medication correctly before you leave the counter.

Always read medication labels and pamphlets that are given with the medication because important information is included on them such as the correct dosage, proper storage and the expiration date.

You may also find information about side effects to watch out for and drug indications or precautions. Read dosing instructions carefully and always measure the medication in the correct dispensing system.

Make sure you read the measurement in good light. Most liquid medications should be shaken before pouring, but read the information or ask the pharmacist to be sure.

Know your infant's weight as most medications are dispensed by weight and or age and weight.

Most infant medications are dispensed by drop or by teaspoons (tsp. or t). Tablespoons (Tbsp. or T) are not the same as a teaspoon.

You may also need to convert teaspoon to milliters (ml) or to cc. One teaspoon is equal to 5 cc and 1 mililiter is equal to 1cc.

Never give an infant more medication than it prescribed for the infant such as thinking that more will make the infant better faster or sleep better.

Dosage is based on weight or weight and age and giving more than the prescribed dose may have disastrous consequences.