Medication in children
Dispensing medication to children is customized
Is your child sick? Of course you want him or her to get better as soon as possible! Medication can help, but giving medication to children is not the same as for adults. A child's body is built differently and reacts differently to medication. Therefore, it is important to always pay close attention when giving medication to your child.
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Dosing
In children, medication works differently because of their growth and development. Their stomach, liver and kidneys are not yet fully developed, so medications sometimes work more slowly or stay in the body longer. This means they need different doses than adults. For example, paracetamol may last longer, antibiotics may not be absorbed as well, and skin creams may enter the body more quickly. That's why it's important to always dose medications for children carefully.
That's why we always carefully calculate exactly how much medication your child needs. This customization ensures that your child is treated safely and effectively.
Ingesting medication
In addition, it is often difficult for young children to swallow tablets. Fortunately, there are alternatives such as drinks, suppositories or chewable tablets. At the pharmacy, we can advise you which form is most suitable for your child. This way we can make sure that the medication not only works, but is also easy to take.
Never just change anything!
It is important to follow the pharmacy's instructions carefully. Never just give a higher dose if you think it will work better, nor stop the medication early without consultation. If you have questions about how to give the medication to your child or are concerned about side effects, do not hesitate to contact the pharmacy.
Our tips at a glance
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Please pay close attention to the information on the label. This tells you exactly how to use the medicine. If something is not clear, ask us for an explanation.
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Be careful with antibiotics. You should always finish a course of antibiotics, even if the symptoms disappear before then. If you don't finish the course, there is a chance that the symptoms will come back. Finishing the course means taking the medicine for as long as the doctor has indicated. This is often also written on the label of the medicine, for example, "for 1 week."
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Offlicensed drugs (also called OTC drugs) can also be risky for children. At the pharmacy we can inform you well about this. For children under the age of 2, for example, it is better not to use menthol. They can sometimes have difficulty breathing due to menthol. Therefore, do not use steam drops, steam capsules or inhalation ointment with menthol on these young children. Expert advice is also very important with certain painkillers, anti-allergy drugs, eye drops or nose drops.
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Have questions about your child's medicine? Ask us for advice. For example, about how much medicine to give your child, what about side effects, or what you can do if your child doesn't want to take the medicine.
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Are you pregnant and/or breastfeeding? Then it is very important that you inform us about this! Medicines can enter the baby's body through the blood during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Tell us if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. We can then advise you. And read the information leaflet extra carefully if you are taking medication.