Well....not really. Turns out that since they don't test on kids under 2 (makes sense), they don't know actual safe dosages (like they do for adults). In mid August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory on nonprescription cough and cold medicine use in children. It includes a section advising parents about the safe use of these drugs that's pretty informative. We all struggle with when to give our kids medicine - it'd be nice to know you could trust the dosage guidance once you decide to go for it.
If you'd like to see this situation improve - of course you do! - you can send a quick message to Congress urging that they DO something. There are two pieces of legislation in the works that will help. And as it happens, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has a great Action Alert where you can send a quick e-mail to your U.S. Reps and learn more about the issue and the legislation. In short, the Foundation says:
Most Americans are shocked to learn that approximately 75 percent of all drugs prescribed for children are not tested for their use, including medications for conditions from asthma and allergies to high blood pressure and HIV/AIDS. With little or no published data available, pediatricians must do their best to estimate proper dosing. Yet because children's small bodies metabolize drugs differently than adults, this can lead to over- or under-medicating. Proper pediatric testing reduces medical errors and adverse drug effects, ultimately improving children's health, saving lives, and reducing health care costs.
How do you approach medicine for your kids - especially those under 2? Any urban pediaMamas out there with expertise to share?
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