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Expert Q&A
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| By Alesia Hanson, RPh Registered Pharmacist | ||
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I am traveling soon with my child who is constantly on antibiotics. I was told that pharmacists can give me a powdered form so that I can mix it if needed while away. Is this true for all medications?
Most children's suspensions come in a powdered form. Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Cephalexin, Cefzil, Omnicef, Zithromax, Biaxin and penicillin all start out as powders and are usually mixed with distilled water when they're dispensed. You could request that they leave the medication as powder and ask them to give you the distilled water separately in another bottle. Once it's mixed though, it may still need to be refrigerated depending on the medication. Others do not require refrigeration; they just need to be kept at around room temperature, and you could take those with you mixed or not. Most formulations of amoxicillin do not need to be refrigerated, and Omnicef, Zithromax and Biaxin should not be refrigerated.
Another option you could try is chewables. Amoxicillin and Augmentin are both available as chewables.
Most physicians hesitate to prescribe antibiotics without a confirmed infection because there is an alarmingly large problem with antibiotic resistant bacteria. If you are out of town and need a prescription for your child, you can have your physician phone your prescription into almost any nearby pharmacy even out of state. If the pharmacy doesn't take your insurance you can always submit the receipt to them for reimbursement when you return home."
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- I am traveling soon with my child who is constantly on antibiotics. I was told that pharmacists can give me a powdered form so that I can mix it if needed while away. Is this true for all medications?
- My baby is very colicky. Is there anything over-the-counter that I can give him that may help?
