Children's Tylenol and ibuprofen is in short supply. Here's what parents can do
When Uptown Pharmacy in Westerville last week received three to four bottles of children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the staff there was ecstatic.
But it's unclear when the independent pharmacy will receive more from its supplier.
"We did get a couple (bottles of) Tylenol suppositories, which nobody is excited about that as their alternative for their kids," pharmacist Jarrett Bauder said.
For much of the past two months, parents have gone to their neighborhood drug store or pharmacy in search of children's acetaminophen (like Tylenol) and ibuprofen (like Advil and Motrin), only to be met by empty shelves.
That's because manufacturers haven't been able to keep up with increased demand from parents whose children have come down with flu, COVID-19, RSV and common colds, said Dr. Jennifer Middleton, a family physician with OhioHealth.
Uptown Pharmacy hasn't capped the number of children’s pain relief products that customers can buy at one time, but CVS Pharmacy currently has a two-product limit in place.
Can't find over-the-counter medication for kids? What parents can do instead
For parents who have struck out after going to multiple stores in search of medicine for feverish children, Middleton suggests treating them with nonpharmaceutical interventions. These include:
Dressing kids in very light layers. "There's no reason to pile on heavy blankets," Middleton said.
Giving them a sponge bath using lukewarm or tepid water. "You don't want to do very hot or very cold water because some kids, especially younger ones, are not as good at temperature regulation as adults are," Middleton said. "You don't want to throw things off too much."
Keeping kids well-hydrated. Cold beverages and popsicles are a nice treat, Middleton said.
Middleton also urges parents to think twice before reaching for acetaminophen or ibuprofen, saying they're not always needed for treating minor afflictions like bumps and bruises.
"An ice pack, a bandage and kissing boo-boos is sometimes all you need to make those things feel better," she said.
What parents shouldn't do
There are some things parents should stay away from when treating their kids, even in the case of a shortage like this:
Never "dose down" adult medications.
Never give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children under the age of 6. "They're associated with very serious outcomes and even some case reports of death from misdosing of those medications," Middleton said.
Never give aspirin to children under the age of 18.
If you're a parent whose child is suffering from a fever that causes them discomfort, say above 102 or 103 degrees, Middleton recommends contacting a family physician or pediatrician for a prescription because pharmacies do sometimes carry stock for serious cases of illness.
"Sometimes if we put a prescription in, even though these medications are available over the counter, we are able to access the medication for kids who really need it," Middleton said.
USA Today reporter Adrianna Rodriguez contributed to this report.
Monroe Trombly covers breaking and trending news.
mtrombly@dispatch.com
@monroetrombly
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here's what to do about the Children's Tylenol and ibuprofen shortage
