Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Children's Medication


These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

 

  Sodium Fluroide [posted 12/01/98]
Question: What are the side affects of sodium fluoride on a month old baby? What is actually used for, is it very dangerous for such a small infant? What is sodium fluoride?

Answer: Used to harden bones and teeth. It is ok in proper doses. Like many things toxic in high doses, essential in small doses.

  Children's Bed Wetting [posted 11/11/98]
Question: My 8 year old son has been taking a tablet a day for about 2 years for bed wetting. The situation has not improved. I am concerned about the possible side effects of this medication. Can you please shed some light on the possible side effects?

Answer: Long term and short term appear about the same. Side effects would be dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness, irregular heart beats.

Children's Behavioral Problems & Medication [posted 10/16/98]
Question: My grandchild, 8 years old, is on zoloft 50mg.(2 years)and methylphenidate sr. 20mg. (recently). We are having behavioral problems approximately 8 hours after taking both meds. I found giving her coke (2oz.) helped her. Symptoms: agitated, non responsive, sometime almost glassy eyes. I orignally started giving her root beer (w/caffine) over ice cream, I switched to diet coke (w/caffine). Aouldroblems are back? Could it be related to sugar? Or are the medications possibly the wrong ones.

Answer: Certainly not the sugar. This needs a major medication change.

Young Children's Medication [posted 8/13/98]
Question: I have a 2 month old baby and I am interested in knowing how to convert OTC medication doses accurately for a child his age. Most cough/cold medications that I find list only the doses for 2 years and up or 6 years and up. Is there a good list anywhere that you know of where I can get this information. It's so hard to get through to the doctor sometimes just to ask about OTC cough and cold type medications.

Answer: There is no list. You will need to define each medication and consult the PDR for the mg/kg dosage. However, for children this is only an approximation.




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