Over the Counter Medicine for Runny Nose for Baby

Using over-the-counter drugs to treat cold symptoms

What are over-the-counter drugs?

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are sold in pharmacies and other stores without a doctor'south prescription. In that location are dozens of OTC drugs on the market for common cold symptoms, such equally a runny nose, congestion, sore throat, headache, or cough.

But only because they are easy to get doesn't hateful that they e'er work, or that they are safe. The best handling for a cold is still plenty of residual and liquids.

Practice not give cough and common cold medications to babies and children nether 6 years quondam without get-go talking to your doctor. The only exceptions are drugs used to treat fever (such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen).

Should I use OTC medications when my kid has a common cold?

When your child is sick, you desire them to experience meliorate. Many parents turn to over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for help. Except for pain and fever drugs, there is no proof that they work. In fact, some of the side effects can make your child feel even worse.

At that place is too a risk of giving your kid too much medicine, such as acetaminophen on top of a cough syrup that already contains acetaminophen. Never use more than i production at the same time unless brash by your medico.

What are the common OTC medications?

Cough and cold medications

Health Canada strongly advises confronting the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children under six years.

When cough keeps your kid awake at nighttime this can be stressful. But coughing tin be helpful. Information technology can be a sign that the body is getting rid of fungus that irritates the airway. Syrups that stop this normal response of the body can be harmful to children. Many OTC cough-and-cold products contain drugs that merits to ease coughing. Unremarkably, they include dextromethorphan (besides called DM) and/or diphenhydramine that depress the cough reflex. Some OTC drugs contain codeine. Codeine should not be used in children nether the age of 12 for any reason.

You should ever cheque the label beginning to make sure the medication is suitable for your child. Talk to your health care practitioner (e.g. doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc.) if you have any questions about using cough and common cold medicines in children. These professionals can too help make certain in that location are no interactions with other health products your child may be taking.

Decongestants

Oral decongestants (pills or syrups taken by the mouth) are drugs from the same family as adrenaline (a hormone that acts on blood vessels). They are given to reduce swelling and stuffiness in the nose due to colds. Decongestants can offer some relief, simply they won't cure the trouble and tin cause a fast heartbeat, restlessness, or insomnia (not able to sleep) in children.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are usually used to dry up a runny nose or reduce sneezing acquired by allergies. They can too ease itching from things similar hives, chickenpox or insect bites. Antihistamines won't help someone with a cold. They can actually present side effects, such equally drowsiness, if used for the handling of a cold.

Nasal drops or sprays

Olfactory organ drops or olfactory organ sprays that contain normal saline (a weak salt water solution) can be used to soften the mucus in the olfactory organ and help your kid breathe better. Practice not use nasal drops or sprays that contain drugs. You should not use hypertonic (iii% or extra strong) nasal drops without talking to your physician.

Pain and fever relievers

The nigh common OTC pain relievers are acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Products with acetylsalicylic acid (such as Aspirin) should not exist given to children and teenagers for fever from colds, chickenpox and flu (influenza) because information technology can cause Reyes syndrome, a sickness that tin cause brain and liver harm.

For fever and mild to moderate pain in children, you should apply acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Acetaminophen is found in products such as Tylenol, Tempra, Panadol and others. Ibuprofen is constitute in products such as Advil or Motrin. They come up in drops for infants, liquid for toddlers, and chewable tablets for older children.

Ibuprofen should only be given if your child is drinking reasonably well. Practise not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months without first talking to your physician. Do not utilize ibuprofen or acetaminophen with any other pain reliever or fever reducer, unless your doctor advises. Remember that some cold medicines include these products with other drugs.

Exist sure to read labels advisedly to see what the products comprise so that you don't requite your child a double dose of the same drug. Different medications have different amounts of acetaminophen, for instance. These drugs are generally condom and they exercise help ease pain and fever. But taking too much of any drug or using information technology for a long period of time tin be harmful.

Medication is non always needed to reduce a child's temperature. Talk to your doctor if your baby (nether 6 months) has a fever.

To learn more about how and when treat a fever, delight read our information on fever and temperature taking.

Natural health products

"Natural" doesn't always hateful safe. Some substances can exist harmful if you accept too much of them, while others can crusade side effects or allergic reactions. Even if a product is safe for adults, it may not be safe for children. Children are nevertheless growing and developing, and their bodies may respond differently to a product or medicine than adults' bodies.

Natural wellness products tin interact with other drugs, even nonprescription drugs. Talk to your child's physician before y'all give a natural health product.

What should I do if my child has a cold?

Offer plenty of fluids and encourage your kid to rest. Colds are caused past viruses that cannot be cured with drugs. They simply need to run their course, so there is little your doc can offer. However, more than serious problems can kickoff out as a cold. Contact your doc if your child shows any of the following signs:

• earache
• fever lasting more 72 hours, or, any fever in a child less than vi months of age
• excessive sleepiness, crankiness or fussiness
• trouble breathing
• less urination (peeing)
• cough that lasts more than than a week or is causing choking or airsickness

Reviewed by the following CPS committees

• Drug Therapy and Chancy Substances Committee
• Public Education Advisory Commission

Last updated: February 2017

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Source: https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/over_the_counter_drugs

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