The Chamber of Pharmacists in the German state of Lower Saxony has warned that children taking adult medications incorrectly could threaten their lives. Because the effect of medications is stronger on children due to their lower weight compared to adults.
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The Chamber demonstrated this danger with the following examples:
- Beta blockers such as metoprolol: may cause a serious disturbance in the baby’s heart rate.
- Painkillers, which affect the central nervous system, may cause slow and short breathing, in addition to loss of consciousness and convulsions.
- Depression medications: They may also cause convulsions in children, in addition to confusion and poor awareness.
Regarding how to act if a child accidentally swallows an adult medication, the chamber explained that parents must call an ambulance immediately, noting the necessity of removing any remaining medication from the mouth, but it is not permissible to force the child to vomit due to the possibility of suffocation.
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To avoid these risks in the first place, medications should be kept out of the reach of children, and it is preferable to keep them in a locked cabinet.