By Veronique LaCapra, St. Louis Public Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-937995.mp3
St. Louis, Missouri – A new study led by the New York University School of Medicine has shown that the directions on over-the-counter liquid medications for kids aren't what they should be. And as St. Louis Public Radio's Veronique LaCapra reports, that could mean kids aren't getting the right dose.
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The study examined two-hundred popular liquid medications for children. About three-quarters included some kind of measuring device, like a cup, spoon, or syringe.
The researchers found that in almost all cases, the written dosing instructions and the measurement markings on the devices didn't match up.
Professor Terry Seaton at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy says these labeling problems are putting kids at risk.
"There's many reports of overdosage that have been tied specifically to the product labeling and to the devices that have been used," says Seaton.
At the end of last year, the FDA issued guidelines recommending that all over-the-counter liquid medications include a measuring device with clear, standardized labeling.