When a toddler gets too much medication

Medical Toxicologist Cyrus Rangan, MD, Poison Control, shares advice for parents on what to do if your child has gotten into medications and taken too much
What To Do If Your Child Takes Too Much Medicine
KidsInTheHouse the Ultimate Parenting Resource
Kids in the House Tour

When a toddler gets too much medication

Comment
73
Like
73
Transcription: 
At Poison Control, we get a number of calls about toddlers getting into medications, not only on their own, but from medications that we give them. Occasionally, a caregiver might give an extra dose of a medication because they have forgotten that they have already given a scheduled dose of a certain kind of medication. Sometimes, there may be two caregivers for that child in a day. That may be the reason the child has been given an extra dose of, say, a fever reducer such as acetaminophen or Advil. In general, most medications such as this doesn't result in severe toxicity, but there are some medications where an extra dose could result in a severe poisoning. Again, we suggest you don't guess on your own. Be sure about the situation. Give us a call at Poison Control so we can help you walk you through the situation, determine what medication the child may have received, determine what medication the child was actually exposed to, and make the determination for you whether it's okay to leave the child at home or you need medical attention.

Medical Toxicologist Cyrus Rangan, MD, Poison Control, shares advice for parents on what to do if your child has gotten into medications and taken too much

Related Videos

Transcript

Expert Bio

More from Expert

Cyrus Rangan, MD

Medical Toxicologist, Poison Control

Cyrus Rangan, MD, is a pediatrician and medical toxicologist. Cyrus serves as the Assistant Medical Director with the California Poison Control System and medical toxicology consultant for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Over 70% of the calls received at the center are able to stay at home and avoid a visit to the hospital, based on the over-the-phone support of the center. Cyrus is also the father of two boys, age seven and four, with whom he enjoys practicing Kung Fu. 

Poisons, Poisons, Poison, Poison
More Parenting Videos from Cyrus Rangan, MD >
Enter your email to
download & subscribe
to our newsletter
  Listen or Watch
Must See First Year Videos
Three important rules about your baby's first foods
First year milestones
Postnatal depression and loneliness advice
Baby losing interest in nursing
The importance of spending quality time during early childhood
Narrating an infant's environment
Research based benefits of co-sleeping
Bonding versus attachment
Bonding with your baby after a less-than-perfect birth
Preventing postpartum depression
Play All 34 Videos
Featured Experts: Alan Greene, MD, Lawrence Kagan, MD, Barbara Olinger, MSW
More Playlists >
Transcription: 
At Poison Control, we get a number of calls about toddlers getting into medications, not only on their own, but from medications that we give them. Occasionally, a caregiver might give an extra dose of a medication because they have forgotten that they have already given a scheduled dose of a certain kind of medication. Sometimes, there may be two caregivers for that child in a day. That may be the reason the child has been given an extra dose of, say, a fever reducer such as acetaminophen or Advil. In general, most medications such as this doesn't result in severe toxicity, but there are some medications where an extra dose could result in a severe poisoning. Again, we suggest you don't guess on your own. Be sure about the situation. Give us a call at Poison Control so we can help you walk you through the situation, determine what medication the child may have received, determine what medication the child was actually exposed to, and make the determination for you whether it's okay to leave the child at home or you need medical attention.