Children And Medications

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In medicine there is a very important saying—children are not little adults.

Many of the treatments we use on adults cannot be used on children and most certainly, it can't be assumed that children can take all of the same medications adults take but in smaller dosages.

Unfortunately, not a lot of medical studies on medications have been done in kids. We do studies in adults and then we try to relate them to children. This is also true with over the counter medications. If you have questions you should talk with your physician or the pharmacist about different medicines -- not just the prescription medication, but over-the-counter products as well. Simple communication now can prevent major problems later.