Before You Give that Medication to Your Child

You Will Need to Know Everything About it Before You Do

You are ready to accept the doctor's medication for your child. Probably he has gone through everything before. Still, there is no harm in checking with him about the following...

Inform the doctor about...

* Has your child had any reaction such as rashes, headaches, dizziness, to any medication taken in the past? 

* Is he taking any medication or vitamins now?

* Is he having any treatment going on now under the watchful eye of another doctor ?

Enquire from your doctor about...

* What is the name of this medication? Jot down its name before you forget.

* What is this medication supposed to do? How and when will you know it has started working?

* What side effects will there be if any? Like dizziness, nausea? Will there a need to call the doctor then?

* How should you give the medication? If you are told to give "3 times a day," does it mean morning, afternoon, and night? Should you give the medication before, after, or with food? If it says " every 6 hours, " does that mean waking him in the night exactly at "every 6 hours?"

* Are there any foods he should avoid while taking this medication?

* Should you give the medication until it is over? What if your child becomes earlier?

How to get the most out from the prescribed medication?

* Is the medication working as it should? If not check with the doctor. He may want to increase the dosage or even change it.

* If you see any reaction such as dizziness, nausea when you begin the medication, call the doctor immediately.

* Read the outside labels carefully. Some medications need to be kept in freezing conditions.

* Do not give the same medication to any other child even if the symptoms are the same.

* Do not remove the medication from the bottle or container.

* If you have any medication left over, destroy them

That's all. May your child become better.