The Food and Drug Administration today reminded parents and child care providers to carefully follow label instructions when giving nonprescription medications to children. President Bush has proclaimed Oct. 5 as National Child Health Day.
Some parents think they can double the dose if their child seems twice as sick.
That's incorrect and dangerous. Approximately 40 percent of U.S. consumers use nonprescription medicines to treat illnesses in the home. Most treatments are for colds and cold-related symptoms that occur most frequently in the fall and winter. The statement and recommendations by the agency on proper and safe use of nonprescription drugs were prompted in part by the inadvertant overdosing of children when parents either misread medicine dose cup markings or did not follow directions properly. FDA, industry and consumer groups have ongoing programs to encourage consumers and patients to follow instructions carefully and adhere to cautions and warnings on nonprescription and prescription medicines.