The Overmedicated Child

The average person with kids today is not aware that drugs given to children have never been tested specifically for them.  Physicians are prescribing drugs based on a "best guess" as to the correct dosage efficacy and even safely.  Looking at the FDA's recent warning regarding children being given cough and cold medicines demonstrates that children are not just "small adults".

This year, the Government Accountability Office said that only one-third of the drugs prescribed for children have been studied and labeled for pediatric use.  The pediatric research that has been done includes some frightening results: of older drugs recently being studied on children, 87 percent were being improperly prescribed.  Children were getting medicine that didn't work at all, was under- or overdosed, or that had some possibility deadly side effects.

What can you do?  Ask your pediatrician these simple questions before accepting a prescription:

1.  Would a wait and watch approach be advisable in this instance?

2.  Is this the only treatment available or do I have options that don't include drug therapy?

3.  What are the side effects of this drug?

4.  Has the drug been tested for pediatric use?

5.  Is this the use for which the drug was intended or are you prescribing this off label?

6.  Can we begin with a smaller dosage and then increase if necessary?

Many parents report and improvement in their childs quality of life after beginning routine, family chiropractic wellness care.  A healthy nervous system results in a stronger immune system, which could mean less prescriptions drugs.