ASMI airs dosing concerns
August 31, 2010
PARENTS and carers should take
extra care when measuring out
medication for children suffering
cold symptoms, according to the
Australian Self-Medication Industry.
The comments come on the back
of a study into the medication
dosing of Australian children which
was presented at the International
Pharmaceutical Federation
Conference (FIP) in Lisbon,
Portugal this week which suggested
that fewer than 50% of parents and
carers calculated the right
medication dosages.
The study found that under half
of parents measured the correct
dosages based on weight, causing
ASMI to stress the importance of
caregivers eading instructions on
the pack before taking medication
or giving medication to a child.
“Different medications may be
used at different doses so it is
important for parents to check the
dosing guidelines on the pack of
each medication before it is used,”
said ASMI Regulatory and Scientific
Affairs Director, Steven Scarff.
ASMI is also urging parents to be
vigilant concerning medication
dosage requirements and changes
for children as they grow with Scarff
saying “it is important to check the
dosing guidelines every time a
medication is used.
“If parents are at all concerned
about how much to give, or how to
give, the medicine they have
chosen for their children, they
should consult their pharmacist or a
doctor for advice,” Scarff said.
Moving forward ASMI said that a
much larger medication dosing
study should be undertaken to
elaborate on the results and
determine the extent of incorrect
dosing in kids throughout the
general population.
“A larger study could also lead to
a better understanding of why this
is happening and help determine
what strategies need to be put in
place to improve self care and self
medication outcomes,” a statement
from the industry body said.
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