We all know that good medicine tastes bitter, but how do you feed your child?

This is the 3567th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

"Nurse, nurse, the baby vomited all the medicine you just gave her in less than half an hour. Does she need more?" "Doctor, doctor, my baby is only 8 months old and his temperature is almost 40 degrees. We tried to feed him Motrin at home, but he just wouldn't swallow it. What should we do?" These are questions pediatric medical staff often hear from parents.

As the saying goes, good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease. Taking medicine for children is different from that for adults. There are many "knowledge" and "attentions" involved.

There are so many common medicines for children, how should they be used?

1. In order to reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, most drugs are recommended to be taken after meals;

2. Antipyretic and analgesic drugs should not be taken with high-carbohydrate foods such as biscuits and fruit juice, in order to prevent the drug from being digested too slowly and failing to reduce fever and relieve pain quickly;

3. If the probiotics of microecological preparations are taken with boiled water that is too hot, the enzyme will lose its activity, but it can be mixed with milk, juice, etc. to reduce the difficulty of feeding the medicine;

4. For most drugs that need to be dissolved, it is recommended to open the package only when taking them, and eat them within 15 minutes after dissolution. Leaving them for too long will reduce the efficacy of the drug;

5. Montmorillonite powder is an antidiarrheal drug that needs to be taken before or after meals. It can be taken between meals. Generally, it should be taken 30 minutes before meals or two hours after meals to allow the drug to fully combine with the gastric mucosa to better exert its efficacy. In addition, montmorillonite powder is a hydrochloric acid containing silicon and aluminum, and its composition is relatively unstable. Be careful not to take it with other drugs to avoid chemical reactions between the drugs. Do not take it with milk, as the protein in milk will destroy the drug ingredients.

6. Children taking diuretics need to pay attention to their children’s urine output;

7. When taking heart medications such as digoxin at home, you should remember to assess your heart rate before taking the medication. If your heart rate is lower than the target value set by your doctor, stop taking the medication to avoid accidents.

Is there a particular order for medication?

When taking more than two drugs, the therapeutic drug should be taken first, and the auxiliary drug should be taken later, and each drug should be taken separately. Some drugs should be taken before going to bed, such as montelukast sodium chewable tablets; some drugs should be taken before meals, such as stomachic drugs, gastric mucosal protective drugs, and gastrokinetic drugs. Drugs that are irritating to the stomach and aid digestion should be taken after meals; antidiarrheal drugs are more effective when taken on an empty stomach, such as montmorillonite powder, which can balance the flora and relieve pain without affecting digestion and absorption.

Common dosing schedule

On an empty stomach: 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast in the morning;

Before meals - 30 to 60 minutes before meals;

During meals – the first bite of food or immediately after a meal;

Before bed – 30 minutes before bedtime.

Do all medicines need to be taken with water? No!

Montelukast powder, a commonly used drug for babies with asthma, can be taken directly or mixed with cold soft foods, such as applesauce and mashed potatoes. It can also be dissolved in room temperature or slightly cold infant formula or breast milk. However, it cannot be dissolved in boiled water because montelukast sodium is unstable and sensitive to light, moisture, and heat. Brewing it with water will reduce the effectiveness of the drug.

How to give medicine to infants?

Hold the child in front of your chest and support the head with your arms to prevent the child from tilting his head back and causing the medicine to enter the trachea, causing choking and coughing. If the baby refuses to take the medicine, press the cheeks with your thumbs and slowly pour the medicine into the mouth from the corners of the mouth along the direction of the cheeks. Take the spoon away after the child swallows the medicine. You can also use a dropper, a dosing cup, etc. to feed the child medicine. These feeding tools are more convenient and more accurate. After feeding the medicine, do not feed the child immediately or let them lie down immediately to avoid vomiting.

Do children need to take the medicine again after vomiting?

The effective period of oral medication is 30 minutes. If a child vomits a lot within 1 hour, he or she needs to rinse the mouth and clean it before feeding again. If vomiting occurs more than 1 hour later, no additional dose is required.

Kind tips

Children are not smaller versions of adults. They have different physiology and pathology. Their liver and kidney functions are not fully developed. Drug metabolism and excretion are different from those of adults, which can easily lead to adverse reactions. Be sure to follow the doctor's advice and do not take medication without authorization!

Author unit: Shanghai Children's Medical Center

Author: Wang Zhangjuan and Gong Lixia

Picture: From the Internet

Reviewer: Shen Biyu

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