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If you've ever had a small child at home with a fever, you may have noticed two options for Tylenol at the store.
There is one for infants and one for children. They contain the same amount of medication – 160 milligrams of acetaminophen per 5 milliliters of fluid – but the infant version costs three times more.
Which give? It turns out that there is a story.
For decades, Tylenol for infants was stronger than the children's version. It was thought that you did not want to give babies a lot of liquid medicine to bring down the fever – so you can give them less if it's stronger.
"She was three times more concentrated," says Inma Hernandez of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Pharmacy. As it contained more acetaminophen, the active ingredient, she explains, it was logical that it was also more expensive. "The price per milliliter was five times higher," says Hernandez.
But there was a problem: the parents were making dosing errors. Babies became ill – some even died. Thus, in 2011, at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, the Tylenol brand manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, announced a change: Tylenol for infants would be the same concentration as Tylenol for children.
Now it's the same medicine, but the price is always different
A quick online search indicates that 4 ounces of Tylenol for Kids are selling for $ 5.99, and that Tylenol for Infants is also selling for $ 5.99, but for just 1 ounce of medication. The same goes for many brands of acetaminophen in store: the baby version is usually three times more expensive than that intended for children.
Kim Montagnino, of Johnson & Johnson, said in a statement to NPR that Tylenol for infants was more expensive because the vial is stronger and includes a measuring syringe, instead of a plastic cup. "These safety features of infant Tylenol (dosing syringe, rigid bottle) are more expensive to manufacture than the Tylenol cup and dosing bottle for children," wrote Montagnino.
Hernandez does not buy it.
"The cup against the syringe does not really explain the price difference in my opinion," says Hernandez. "They are really cheap because they are just plastic.When we think about what is expensive in a medicine, it is actually the active ingredient and the preparation of this active ingredient in the formulation , not the plastic cup or the syringe. "
But Johnson & Johnson's explanation makes sense for Edgar Dworsky, consumer rights advocate and founder of the Consumer World website. "There is one more thing in the box, and extra things usually cost money," he says.
"Think of an aerosol cleaner.You can buy the aerosol cleaner in the vaporizer, and it costs a bit more expensive.Or you can buy the refill that gives you more ounces but without a sprayer – that is. is nice of the same concept. "
But this is of course not an aerosol cleaner. It's a medicine. And parents are sensitive to marketing because the stakes are huge.
"I certainly imagine that product manufacturers know that parents want to be very careful when they buy products for their kids," Dworsky said. "Really, the lesson is – read the label – see what you get for your money."
The Ankoor Shah pediatrician of the National Child Health System in Washington, DC, knows just how confusing this is for parents, as it asks them innumerable questions about over-the-counter medications.
"The packaging and dosage are not easy, it is not simple and, according to the personal opinion, this is not user friendly for parents," said Shah.
For example, Tylenol for infants does not indicate on the label what is the proper dosage for a baby under 2 years old. It simply says "ask a doctor". Shah says that he always uses a calculator to determine the amount to be given to a child, based on his weight, and gives flaps to parents during child visits. You can also find online information from reputable sources.
He says that if you opt for the bottle of acetaminophen for kids or babies at the store, the most important thing is to get the right dosage.
"When you start giving more acetaminophen than is recommended, serious side effects could occur," he said.
The bottom line is knowing what you need. And if you need to spend those few extra dollars for the special syringe and bottle to get the perfect dosage, maybe the markup is worth it.
If you think you might accidentally overdose a child, contact your doctor or call your doctor. poison control center. There are 55 poison control centers in the United States; all can be reached at the same hotline number: 1-800-222-1222.
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