Republished November 5, 2024
Dosing instructions for liquid medicines, especially over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, for children and infants may say to give a "dropperful." There are several problems with these instructions. If the medicine comes with a dropper that has markings on it, one person may consider it to be a dropper filled to the upper calibration mark, while another person may try to fill the entire dropper. If the medicine dose not come with a dropper, people may use a household dropper or a dropper that came with another product.
All of these situations are problematic and can result in dosing errors. It is important to use the dosing device that comes with the medicine and make sure you understand the directions. Never use a household dropper or a dropper from another product. If you have any questions about the medicine or how to give a dose, ask your pharmacist. There may be alternative products that you can use that have more accurate dosing devices (e.g., oral syringe).
