Dosing
charts
One of the most frequent questions we get is in regard to the proper dosage for common over-the-counter medications. It's important to get the proper dosage for your child's weight and/or age, as too much medication may result in an overdose, while too little will prolong the symptoms. Consult the proper dosage chart below for the medication you have been advised to give your child.
Acetominophen (Tylenol)
Dosages may be repeated every 4 hours. A medical dropper or syringe is advised for accurate dosing. Do NOT use household teaspoons as they can vary in volume.
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Store brand acetominophen is equivalent to Tylenol and is usually much less expensive.
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Do NOT use for babies 8 weeks and younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4F or above. Contact us immediately for medical advice.
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Acetaminophen is also available as a rectal suppository. This form is very useful for children that refuse to take oral medications or have been vomiting. Generic acetaminophen suppositories are available behind the counter from a pharmacist. These must be kept refrigerated. Dose forms = 120mg, 325mg and 650mg. A name brand form is Feverall. This brand does not need to be refrigerated, but it is more expensive. Dose forms for Feverall are 80 and 120mg. Refer to the chart to determine how many milligrams should be given. Rectal acetaminophen may be given up to every 4 hours as needed to relive discomfort.
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
Dosages may be repeated orally every 6 to 8 hours. 5 ml = 1 teaspoon.
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Store brand ibuprofen is equivalent to Motrin or Advil and is usually much less expensive.
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Do NOT use for children under the age of 6 months or younger, unless specifically prescribed by your physician.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Dosages may be repeated orally every 6. Commonly used to relieve itching from bug bites, rashes and hives. May cause drowsiness, though some people become hyper.
Store brand diphenhydramine is equivalent to Benadryl and is usually much less expensive.
Do NOT use for children under 1 year of age, unless specifically prescribed by your physician.
What about
Aspirin?
An old-fashioned medicine cabinet
staple, aspirin was once hailed the
"wonder drug" of modern medicine,
treating everything from the common headache to severe pain. It remains an important medication in a doctor's arsenal.
However, children under the age of 19 should NEVER be given aspirin, unless under a doctor's orders.
Aspirin has been linked to Reye's Syndrome, a serious and potentially life-threatening disease that causes swelling in the brain and can lead to a coma or even death.
Instead, It's safer to treat your child with Tylenol or Ibuprofen according to the dosage charts pictured above.
If you still have questions or concerns, or your child has not shown improvement in their symptoms after taking these medications, please contact us right away.
Do I need an
Antibiotic?
Antibiotics serve a very important
purpose in medicine, but they are not
appropriate in all cases. They are very powerful medications that should only be used as prescribed by a physician and never shared with anyone.
Additionally, antibiotics are prescribed ONLY when there is evidence of a bacterial infection to be present in the body.
This means that an antibiotic WILL NOT treat the common cold, the flu, or viral illnesses It is inappropriate and potentially medically dangerous for us to prescribe an antibiotic over the phone.
Here are some of the reasons an antibiotic may be prescribed:
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Some ear infections
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Some sinus infections
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Some pneumonias
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Strep throat
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Skin infections
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Urinary tract infections
Antibiotics are NEVER appropriate for:
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Colds
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Flu
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Runny nose
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Most bronchitis