How to Avoid Overmedicating Your Child?

Medication over dose is a serious event especially in a child. This must be avoided to protect your child's safety. Usually an overdose will result in the signs and symptoms of the medication's side effects. These side effects will be magnified in an overdose putting your child's health in serious jeopardy. Some of these side effects are frightening. For example, if your child should have an over dose of a cold medicine, some of the symptoms that may occur are:
Severe headache, blurred vision, lethargy or stupor and loss of contact with reality.
You must seek immediate medical attention if any of these symptoms are observed in your child.

Here are some guidelines to help you to avoid over medicating your child.
Do not give your child over the counter (OTC) medications without consulting with your child's pediatrician.

When your child's pediatrician prescribes medication for your child ask the following questions and be sure you understand the answers clearly. Make clear, accurate and understandable notes. Review the notes with the pediatrician to make sure they are correct.

What is the purpose of the medication?

What is the correct dosage to be given to your child?

How many times per day should the medications be given?

What specific times should the medications be given?

What are the side effects of the medications?

What to do if side effects occur?

Stick to the pediatrician's instructions and do not hesitate to ask for further explanation if needed.

Keep a record of the name, date, time and dosage of the medication you give your child as a reminder to your self.

To make sure the dosage is given accurately, a small syringe or dropper may be used to measure the amount.

Other issues to think about.
Store medications in a locked cabinet away from your child's reach to avoid your child taking the medication.
When discarding expired medications make sure they are safely discarded where your child will not be able to get to them.

According to the FDA- most problems with cold medicine occur when "more than the recommended amount is used, if it is given too often, or if more than one cough and cold medicine containing the same active ingredient are being used."

Use these guidelines along with following your child's pediatrician's medication orders, regarding giving the right medication at the right time in the right dosage.
This will keep your child from being over-medicated.