Get consumer updates by E-mail
Read the drug facts label: Drugs that make a drug against the disease effectively, which is to treat it, are first listed on the product label drug facts.
Consumer updates RSS feed
Share this article (PDF-210 K)
On this page:
Ah-Choo!
If your child is a storm of sneezing, it must once again Allergiesaison.
And if your child takes place several drugs at the same time, it might be health-threatening follow if these drugs have the same active ingredient after Hari Cheryl Sachs, m.d., a pediatrician at the food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A drug is composed of many components. Some are "inactive" and only help it to taste better or faster to solve, while others are active. An ingredient in a medicine is the component that pharmaceutically active makes--it makes the medicine is effectively treated for the disease or condition.
Active ingredients are first on a medication Drug Facts label for over the counter (OTC) products listed. For prescription drugs, these are in a patient package insert or consumer information sheet provided by the pharmacist.
Many drugs have only a drug. But combination drugs, such as for allergy, cough or fever and congestion, possibly more than one.
Taken, taking antihistamines for allergies. "Too much antihistamine can cause that the sedation and - paradoxically - agitation." In rare cases, there may be problems with breathing, including reduced oxygen or increased carbon dioxide in the blood, says Sachs lead.
"We are just Allergiesaison," says Sachs. "Many parents can give their children at least one product with an antihistamine in it." Over the counter (OTC)-antihistamines (brand name examples) are Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert), diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Chlorpheniramine (chlorine Trimeton), Clemastine (Tavist), fexofenadine (Allegra) and cetirizine (zyrtec).
But parents can treat their children for a separate illness, such as cough or cold. What they need to realize is that more than one combination medicine may be too many.
"It is important not to accidentally give your child a double dose", Sachs says.
back to top
The same goes for other active substances, often in combination products for allergies but also used to treat other symptoms such as fever, headache and nasal congestion:
Acetaminophen (in Tylenol and many other products), a pain reliever, the commonly used in the treatment of fever, mild pain or headache. Taking too much can cause liver damage.Ibuprofen (such as advil or Motrin), a more common medicine for the relief of mild to moderate pain of sinus pressure, to reduce headaches, muscle aches, fever and flu. Too much ibuprofen can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, even kidney failure.Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine (found in brand-name drugs such as Actifed and Sudafed) in large amounts taken can cause, that excessive sleepiness in children. You can create also cardiac arrhythmias, particularly in connection with products and foods containing caffeine. In the form of nose and nasal sprays, drops, these products as well as Oxymetazoline (the active ingredients in products such as Afrin), "Rebound" may cause jams where the nose is clogged or even worse.One of the above mentioned symptoms points to a need for immediate medical attention. "The bottom line is, that neither you nor your children take several combination medicines at the same time professional should advice without review of active substances and your health care first" Sachs recommends.
In addition, two different active ingredients says the same purpose serve to Sachs. For example, paracetamol and ibuprofen, pain and fever help reduce. There is usually no your child give both drugs for the same symptoms.
back to top
Whether treatment of your child's condition with OTC medicines from the drugstore or those who prescribed by your physician, it is important that you any medicine and track contains the active ingredients, says Sachs.
"It's easy to forget what medicines your child give you," Sachs says. "And if you have more than one child, they get even more complicated." She recommends, it is a habit, write down the name of each medicine, give your child whether it OTC or prescription (download a daily medical records template).
"It's really a good idea to this list with you to wear when you go to see your pediatrician or also if you go to the pharmacy,", she adds. Note also what vitamins and supplements your child, as to adversely interact with certain medications.
Most importantly, Sachs says that parents add always the drug facts label on OTC products and patient package or consumer information sheet, that comes with prescription medicines, every time, if you consider a drug for their child, even if they think they already know, should read the ingredients. You should know that the ingredients without a significant change in the packaging can change. And they should contact their families of health care professional if you have questions.
This article appears on FDA Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
12 March 2013
back to top
? ?
No comments:
Post a Comment