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URGENT! DH accidentally gave 1 tbsp of tylenol to DS instead of 1 TSP

post #1 of 71
9/30/10 at 11:25pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, I am so mad right now I am fuming. I didn't even want DH to give tylenol, but DS spiked a fever, and gave him tylenol when I was gone. I can live with that, but the dosage is 1 TEASPOON (160 mg) and DH accidentally gave DS 1 TABLESPOON which would be 480 MG!!!

I am writing this through my tears. I called Poison Control, and they said that dosage is not toxic, and I even called my pedi's office, who confirmed DS could take as much as 10 teaspoons before toxicity occurs.

But I am still worried to death! Has anyone ever done this by accident before? I am about to divorce DH! (not really...but I am super mad...like steam fuming out of my ears mad)

Do you think I should be worried?
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post #2 of 71
9/30/10 at 11:28pm
No, I don't. Poison Control really does know what it's talking about. And try not to be too angry with your husband. Mistakes happen.
post #3 of 71
9/30/10 at 11:32pm
My friend's DS ate a bunch of children's Tylenol cause he thought, of course, they were candy. My friend called Poison Control and they reassured her that the children's version has a very, very low dose of medicine in it. Later on, she took DS to the hospital anyway, and the nurse gave her crap for not bringing him in right away--until the doctor reassured the nurse that Poison Control were THE authority on the subject.

Her DS was just fine. No worries!!
post #4 of 71
9/30/10 at 11:33pm
It's happened in this house too. Poison control really does give good advice. Trust them! Give your dh a lesson on giving out meds (including checking expiration dates!) and then forgive him. Poor guy really tried to do the right thing. I bet he feels rotten!
post #5 of 71
9/30/10 at 11:39pm
When you calm down, go give your DH a hug. He is a parent too, and he was trying to do his best. I bet he does feel really bad.
post #6 of 71
9/30/10 at 11:46pm
And buy something that measures in mL so DH doesn't have to guesstimate when he's worried enough to dose your DS.
post #7 of 71
10/1/10 at 12:12am
A frustratingly easy mistake to make. We always use the dropper 'cause it's easier to measure in mL than by a tsp/tbsp plus it's easier to get ds to take it with the dropper.

When you're figuring out dose are you using the age guideline or weight? Weight is a better way to go - if I go by age for ds the dose is half of what it should be for his weight.
post #8 of 71
10/1/10 at 12:15am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the reassurance. I know I need to forgive my husband. But he called me when I was gone *specifically* to ask me if he could give DS tylenol, and at first I said no. He kept pressing the issue so I told him he could give 1/2 a dose. Grrrr....

I know he feels like crap. Not to be a complainer, but my husband honestly NEVER listens to me. He *hears* me, but most times he couldn't repeat back what I said to him. He tells me he has undiagnosed ADHD, but I think it's selective. I think the sound of my voice must sound like those "Waa Waa" voices of the adults on Charlie Brown.

Anyway, DS is sleeping, I, because I am a worrier, probably won't get much sleep tonight.
But thank you ladies for chiming in. I love my DH, but lately feel like I want to ring his neck.
post #9 of 71
10/1/10 at 12:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lifeguard View Post
A frustratingly easy mistake to make. We always use the dropper 'cause it's easier to measure in mL than by a tsp/tbsp plus it's easier to get ds to take it with the dropper.

When you're figuring out dose are you using the age guideline or weight? Weight is a better way to go - if I go by age for ds the dose is half of what it should be for his weight.
I have always just dosed by the guidelines on the bottle. DS is 24 pounds, teetering on 25. I normally just use my cooking teaspoons for meds. And I always thought 2 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon. But tonight I find out that 1 tablespoon is THREE teaspoons! (I filled my tablespoon up twice, both times it only took 2 teaspoons...I am stumped)

How do I figure out what his appropriate dose would be?
post #10 of 71
10/1/10 at 12:23am
you dose by *weight* and only ever give medicine from a medicine dropper or syringe, never from a spoon.
post #11 of 71
10/1/10 at 12:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tbone_kneegrabber View Post
you dose by *weight* and only ever give medicine from a medicine dropper or syringe, never from a spoon.
You can often pick these up for free from a pharmacy, although usually children's meds come with a syringe/dropper.

If not, they are just a dollar or two in the children's section at a drugstore and definitely worth having.
post #12 of 71
10/1/10 at 12:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AprilM View Post
He kept pressing the issue so I told him he could give 1/2 a dose. Grrrr....
It really isn't a great plan to under-medicate any more than it is to over-medicate. Give the proper dose by weight when it is needed. Also, only use a proper dosing device- a syringe is ideal at that age.

Also, why would your husband need to ask you for permission? I think you should both sit down to discuss some family guidelines and practices about medications so this won't happen again.


As for worrying- don't worry, Poison control really is a fabulous resource, they know what they are talking about. Get some sleep or take some time to reconnect with your DH who doesn't need your anger heaped on his guilt.
post #13 of 71
10/1/10 at 12:53am
Tell your dh to research how to safely give kids medications and teach you how to do it.
post #14 of 71
10/1/10 at 1:00am
If you are ever really worried, you can go to the er and they will draw blood levels-if there has been too much tylenol they'll have you come in and administer an antidote of sorts. We found this out when one of mine was younger and ate some "tic tacs" (tylenol). It was heart stopping, but fine in the end. It does take a lot of children's tylenol to do harm. Actually-we never give it anymore. I prefer Motrin if anything is ever necessary.

A note about the half dose--it's really not worth doing. You are giving an ineffective dose of medication so whatever issue you want to remedy won't be helped, and your child will have gotten unnecessary meds. It's not really worth doing.
post #15 of 71
10/1/10 at 1:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by karne View Post
If you are ever really worried, you can go to the er and they will draw blood levels-if there has been too much tylenol they'll have you come in and administer an antidote of sorts. We found this out when one of mine was younger and ate some "tic tacs" (tylenol). It was heart stopping, but fine in the end. It does take a lot of children's tylenol to do harm. Actually-we never give it anymore. I prefer Motrin if anything is ever necessary.

A note about the half dose--it's really not worth doing. You are giving an ineffective dose of medication so whatever issue you want to remedy won't be helped, and your child will have gotten unnecessary meds. It's not really worth doing.
What makes you prefer Motrin over Tylenol...out of curiousity. About the 1/2 doseage issue, it has always worked for me in the past, it was actually recommended to me by my chiro who normally doesn't suggest giving Tylenol for fevers. He said if I must give Tylenol, usually a 1/2 dose will bring the fever down a bit. It's always worked here.
post #16 of 71
10/1/10 at 1:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tbone_kneegrabber View Post
you dose by *weight* and only ever give medicine from a medicine dropper or syringe, never from a spoon.
Agree with this. I only give meds from the device with the medication for children. I guess if I lost it I would get one from the pharmacy. Incorrect dosage of medication is incredibly common.
post #17 of 71
10/1/10 at 1:08am
I would be livid at my dh, too!!
post #18 of 71
10/1/10 at 1:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AprilM View Post
What makes you prefer Motrin over Tylenol...out of curiousity. About the 1/2 doseage issue, it has always worked for me in the past, it was actually recommended to me by my chiro who normally doesn't suggest giving Tylenol for fevers. He said if I must give Tylenol, usually a 1/2 dose will bring the fever down a bit. It's always worked here.
Motrin is a better anti inflammatory in my experience. Additionally, while ibuprofen can be harder on the stomach, tylenol is harder on the liver. In some cases, it works to alternate meds every 4 hours particularly if the medications are used regularly or for an extended period.

Because over-the-counter dosing is so safely controlled, the half dose really isn't necessary, and doesn't have a benefit. Instead, it may be less effective or last for a shorter period of time, but there was no benefit to the smaller dose- it isn't significantly safer than the appropriate dose.
post #19 of 71
10/1/10 at 1:40am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by confustication View Post
If you interpreted it that way, I apologize. I was simply wondering why if it is a big issue to you, you don't have some guidelines about it so there is a clear 'if the fever is over x or he seems uncomfortable for y amount of time' concept. I know in our family medications are handled by whichever parent is with the child at the time, with an agreement that while we don't like medicating excessively, there is a time and a place. We don't medicate for just a fever unless it is over 103, and we don't medicate for discomfort unless other comfort measures fail. It's kind of like standing orders in a hospital, but it keeps things clear for us. We also keep a medication log in the med cupboard and whenever a medication is given we write it there. It really cuts the risk of a missed communication.

As for being angry, I get it, but try to see it from his point of view. I know I would feel like poo if I made a mistake like that, and having my partner angry at me would make it all so much worse. Taking it in stride as a learning experience together (after all, you were using the wrong item with which to measure and under-dosing, so you learned from this as well) will probably lead to less of his tuning you out in the long run.
DH and I are first time parents, we don't have written out guidelines or a medication log. good idea tho. We haven't really had to give DS much in the way of meds yet, so it really hasn't come up much.

I am confused about one thing...what is the difference between a cooking teaspoon and a syringe/dropper teaspoon? Are they different amounts?

As far as underdosing, like I said, it's worked for us.
post #20 of 71
10/1/10 at 1:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by annettemarie View Post
No, I don't. Poison Control really does know what it's talking about. And try not to be too angry with your husband. Mistakes happen.
This. So sorry mama, what a heart stopper for you and your DH! Poison Control is our best friend around here. I had a kid guzzle mouthwash, another one pried open a bottle of children's tylenol, and another sucked on a Sharpie. FWIW...when it says nontoxic, it really means it. Poison control has always been awesome as a resource.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AprilM View Post
Thanks for the reassurance. I know I need to forgive my husband. But he called me when I was gone *specifically* to ask me if he could give DS tylenol, and at first I said no. He kept pressing the issue so I told him he could give 1/2 a dose. Grrrr....

I know he feels like crap. Not to be a complainer, but my husband honestly NEVER listens to me.
It's frustrating to feel like our partners don't listen to us, but can I gently suggest that you didn't exactly listen to him either? He wanted to give Tylenol, you 'said no'. Then you acquiesced to a half (ineffective) dose. Yes, there was a dosing mistake, and I completely understand being freaked out. But he can't learn to be a competent parent until he has the opportunity, without anyone granting or revoking permission. You learned to be an awesome mom through your own methods of trial and error, so he'll figure out what works for him.

Do you ask him if it's ok to give medication to your child? If you do, what if he said no?

I can't imagine requiring my DH to ask my permission to give the kids Tylenol. Sure, he'd let me know if he gave them some, and what it was for, but to ask me as if *I* made the final decision? Nope. I have to trust him to parent them, that includes OTC medications.

I hope you are able to let go of the anger soon, I don't blame either of you for being upset, verrrrry stressful to think of what 'might' happen.

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