Many more over-the-counter medicines can be helpful though—as long as you use them at the correct dosages and at the proper times.
Pain and Fever
Pain and fever reducers are perhaps some of the more useful over-the-counter medicines. These include Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen).
Medicines containing salicylates, including aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), should not be given to children or teens because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Parents should also avoid medicines like the Kaopectate and adult formulations of Pepto Bismol, which contain bismuth subsalicylate. The pediatric formulation of Pepto Bismol does not contain salicylates.
Colds and Coughs
A large variety of cold and cough medicines are available for kids, but remember that the FDA warns that they should not be used for infants and toddlers under age 2 years. Most manufacturers have gone even further and have stopped marketing them to children under age four and some experts wonder if they are even useful for older kids.
Major brands of over-the-counter cold and cough medicines for older children include:
Children’s Delsym Cough Plus Chest Congestion Children’s Dimetapp Cold and Cough Little Noses Decongestant Nose Drops Children’s Mucinex Congestion and Cough Pediacare Children’s Cough and Congestion Children’s Robitussin Cough and Chest Congestion Children’s Sudafed Cold Plus Cough Triaminic Vicks Children’s Cough Congestion
For Babies
Few products are approved for use by babies and younger infants, so only use those that are or get the advice of your pediatrician before using other products off-label that are intended for older children. Commonly used over-the-counter medicines for babies include:
Mylicon Infants’ Gas ReliefOrajel Baby cooling gels for teethingAquaphor Healing ointment or creamDesitin diaper rash cream or ointmentEnfamil Fer-In-Sol iron supplement dropsEnfamil Poly-Vi-Sol multivitamin supplement drops
Itching
Anti-itch creams and lotions are essential over-the-counter medicines to have in your medicine cabinet if your kids spend any time outside, as they will likely often have insect bites, poison ivy, and other itchy rashes.
In addition to oral Benadryl (diphenhydramine), some good choices to treat itching include:
Hydrocortisone cream 1%Calamine lotionNatural colloidal oatmeal cream or lotionGold Bond anti-itch creamSarna lotionCaladryl ClearItch-X anti-itch spray or gelDomeboro astringent solutionBenadryl Extra Strength Itch Relief gel or spray (not to be used on large areas or with oral Benadryl)
Rashes
In addition to anti-itch creams and lotions and moisturizers, other over-the-counter medicines for rashes you may want to have include:
Neosporin First Aid Antibiotic ointmentPolysporin First Aid Antibiotic ointmentLotrimin AF Antifungal for athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringwormLamisil AT for athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringwormTinactin cream for athlete’s foot and ringworm
Constipation
Preventing constipation with a healthy diet that is high in fiber is best for children, but when they do get constipated, these medicines are often helpful:
Miralax: polyethylene glycol laxative for adults, but often used off-label by pediatricians for younger childrenPedia-Lax: docusate sodium laxative, oral liquidPedia-Lax: magnesium hydroxide laxative, chewable tabletsPedia-Lax: glycerin laxative, rectal liquid or suppositoryFleet for children: enemaPhillips Milk of MagnesiaFletcher’s Laxative for Kids: senna laxative
Stomach Issues
Stomachaches, in addition to those that are caused by constipation, are a common problem for many kids. These over-the-counter medicines are sometimes useful:
Culturelle for Kids: probiotic supplementDigestive Advantage Daily Probiotics + Lactose Support: for children 8 years or older with lactose intolerancePepto Kids: calcium carbonate antacid to help relieve heartburn in childrenEmetrol: nausea reliefDramamine Chewable: prevents motion sickness in childrenBest Choice Fiber Laxative: fiber supplements for children 6 years or olderTums: antacid for children 12 years or older
Since the causes of stomachaches are sometimes difficult to sort out, it usually best to see your pediatrician before giving your child an over-the-counter treatment on your own though.
Allergies
Like cold and cough medicines, parents often turn to over-the-counter allergy medicines to treat their children’s allergy symptoms. This is even more common now that Claritin, Zyrtec, and Flonase are available over the counter.
Children’s Benadryl: diphenhydramine for children 6 years or olderChildren’s Claritin Allergy: loratadine solution for children 2 years or olderClaritin RediTabs: loratadine tablets for children 6 years or olderClaritin D 12 hour or 24 hour: loratadine and pseudoephedrine tablets for children 12 years or olderZyrtec syrup or chewable tablets: cetirizine for children 2 years or olderZyrtec D 12 hour: cetirizine and pseudoephedrine tablets for children 12 years or olderOpcon-A: allergy relief eye drops for children 6 years or olderNaphcon A: allergy relief eye drops for children 6 years or olderZaditor: allergy relief eye drops for children 3 years or olderChildren’s Flonase: nasal steroid for children 4 years or older
Other Conditions
Some other over-the-counter medicines that can be useful include:
Reese’s Pinworm Itch Relief: for children 12 years or olderNeo-Synephrine Regular: nasal decongestant spray for children 12 years or olderNeo-Synephrine Mild: nasal decongestant spray for children 6 years or olderAyr Saline Nasal Gel: helps moisturize dry noses and may prevent nose bleedsHibiclens: antiseptic/antimicrobial skin cleanser for recurrent skin infections, including MRSANix shampoo: permethrin treatment for head liceRid shampoos: piperonyl/pyrethrum treatment for head liceCompound W: wart removerBenzoyl peroxide cream, pads, or gel for acne
What to Avoid
Medicines that you should likely avoid altogether include:
Aspirin: While it is no longer called Baby Aspirin, parents should still remember to not give chewable aspirin to kids unless specifically advised to do so by their pediatrician Baby Orajel Homeopathic teething tablets and gels Ipecac syrup: Parents were once told to keep ipecac in their home to induce vomiting in case of accidental poisonings. These days, you should just call poison control.
Confused about all of the over-the-counter medicines you see on pharmacy shelves these days?
Be sure to talk to your pediatrician about which medicines they recommend you use and which you should avoid, either because they don’t work, cause too many side effects, or are just plain dangerous.
Children from ages 2 to 12 can take Pepto Kids, an upset stomach medicine that contains calcium carbonate instead of bismuth subsalicylate.
Children’s cough medicines can contain different medications, such as dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine, that help to calm a cough and ease congestion.
If you have any questions, check with your child’s pediatrician.
You can also give your child Benadryl (diphenhydramine) orally to stop itching.
If your child has an itchy rash of unclear origin or does not resolve with over-the-counter treatments, call the pediatrician.
