Accidental Ingestion of Medicine in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 5, 2024.
Accidental ingestion of medicine can be life-threatening and must be treated immediately.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:
- Your child is not conscious, has trouble breathing, or is not breathing.
- Your child has a seizure.
Seek care immediately if:
- Your child has vision changes or is hallucinating.
- Your child is confused, agitated, or irritable.
- Your child has an irregular heartbeat.
- Your child faints or feels dizzy or weak.
- Your child has a rash or hives. Your child's face may look red or darker than usual.
Call your child's doctor if:
- Your child develops any new signs or symptoms.
- Your child has nausea or is vomiting.
- Your child swallowed an amount of medicine that may be harmful but does not have any signs or symptoms.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
If you think your child has ingested too much medicine or the wrong medicine:
This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Call the Poison Control Center immediately . The telephone number is 1-800-222-1222 . Keep this number by every telephone in your home and on your mobile phone.
Help prevent accidental ingestion of medicine:
- Safely store all medicines. Keep medicines out of sight and reach from your child. Store medicines in higher locations or in childproofed cabinets or drawers.
- Keep all medicines in the original packaging. Do not put medicines in containers that are not labeled or in plastic bags. Medicine packaging usually has child-safety features to keep your child from getting into the container.
- Measure liquid medicine correctly. Use a tool specially made to measure liquid medicine. Examples are oral syringes and marked dosing spoons or cups. These tools can be found at a drugstore. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon. These are not accurate, so your child may get the wrong dose of medicine.
- Talk to your child's healthcare provider or a pharmacist before you give your child medicine. The provider or pharmacist can give you instructions on how to safely give your child medicine.
- Properly dispose of medicines you no longer use. Follow instructions from a healthcare provider or pharmacist on how to safely dispose of medicines. This will help limit the amount of medicines in your home.
Follow up with your child's doctor as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Further information
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