Tips for Using a syringe for prescription medication

When a young child is sick, it can be difficult to give him of her the proper dose of medication recommended by your pediatrician. For instance, while older children can drink the medicine from a small cup, young children have not yet mastered that skill. In this case, the experts at RxList recommend using a syringe to administer the medication. To do this, parents should “squirt the medicine into the back of the child’s mouth” because it will be less likely to drip out. Many syringes are equipped with caps to minimize the risk of leakage, but it is crucial to remove the cap before giving the child the recommended dose because it poses a choking hazard.

Ideally, parents should look for syringes specially made for children, but hypodermic syringes can also work; just remember to take the needle out! For more information about administering medication to young children, talk to a pediatrician or pharmacist on your True Care Advantage prescription plan. True Care members can save up to 60 percent on most prescription medications. Why wait?

What is a generic medication?

Generic medications are generally created after the patent of a name-brand medication has expired. At this time, pharmaceutical companies can get the approval of the FDA to sell an equivalent product under a new name. The Generic Pharmaceutical Association explains that in order for a pharmaceutical manufacturer to be approved to market a generic drug, the drug must contain the same active ingredient; be identical in strength and dosage; and be equal in strength, purity and quality. It also must be manufactured under the same strict regulations as the brand-name drug.

Generic drugs can be found by asking your doctor or pharmacist about their availability. In general, most prescriptions can be substituted with a generic alternative, but it’s always a good idea to check ahead of time. The FDA’s Web site, allows consumers to search by drug name to get detailed information about each drug on the market. Because of the FDA’s strict guidelines about the making of generic drugs, consumers should be assured that their generic drugs will be of the same quality and effectiveness as the brand name product. The Generic Pharmaceutical Association cautions people to not be thrown off by a difference in color or presentation; often, this is just to respect the patent of the original drug. Cosmetic differences will not impact the functionality of any prescription.

For more information about purchasing generic medicines, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about the options available to you. Generic drugs are a great way to maximize your savings, especially when you combine them with your True Care discount rx card.