Drug facts labels and understanding them are important for parents. Back-to-school season is upon us and if your house is anything like mine, we’ve already started combating germs. We hit week three of school here and we are dealing with a fever, croup-like cough, and asthma. While I understand as a nurse that little immune systems are strengthened by exposure to everyday germs, my mom side is not so rational at 2am when I’ve been up with sick kids.
Understanding Drug Facts – Be Safe with Medications
As parents, we all understand that childhood illnesses are inevitable which is why it’s so important to become familiar with any over-the-counter (OTC) medicine before administering it to yourself or your child.
So before administering any OTC medicine, thoroughly read the Drug Facts label to help answer two critically important questions such as:
What ingredients are in this medicine and for what symptoms are you treating?
Is there a combination of medicines?
It’s important to note that understanding the Drug Facts label for all of us is essential, whether you’re seeking relief for one symptom such as a fever, cough, cold, and aches, or someone who manages chronic illnesses. Here are six tips breaking down the key parts of the Drug Facts label to help parents or any adults achieve a better understanding (along with a bonus infographic)!
- Active ingredients – Some medications have more than one active ingredient. Why does that matter? We could all use a reminder as parents to be certain you aren’t dosing the same ingredient twice.
- Uses – Consider why you are giving or taking this medicine and keep in mind that most OTC medications treat only the symptoms but do not cure illnesses.
- Warnings – I’m shining a virtual spotlight on this. *It is never advised to use any medicine to make a child sleepy.
- Directions – Cough and cold medications are labeled for children ages 4 and over – very important to be mindful of this if you have young children.
- Other information – If you are ever concerned that a child has gotten into an OTC medication accidentally, call poison control immediately: 1-800-222-1222
- Just as washing our hands and sanitizing surface areas is part of our parenting gig, reading and understanding the Drug Facts label before administering any OTC medicines should also become part our routine. The KYOTC’s website offers an interactive Drug Facts label. You can find it at: http://www.knowyourotcs.org/how-to-read/
Wishing you and your family a health and safe back-to-school season!
I’m proud to join the conversation and empower parents as a blogging ambassador with the CHPA (Consumer Health Products Association) Educational Foundation and KnowYourOTCs.org. This is a sponsored post. While I have received compensation by the CHPA Educational Foundation, KnowYourOTCs, my opinions are my own.
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