AboutNigel Simmons Expertise I am happy to answer general questions on medicines and hospital care. If possible, please use approved / chemical names rather than brands which are not internationally recognised.
Like all health professionals I am bound by a duty of care which prevents me giving detailed information about medication or treatment of people other than the questioner.
I will endeavour to help wherever possible or point towards more appropriate advice. If however your question crosses too far into patient confidentiality, I hope you will understand why I cannot answer your question.
Consider.. would you want me to discuss your care with a friend or relative without your knowledge?
Experience Registered as a UK pharmacist in 1982 and have worked in a number of hospital and health management posts around the UK. Formerly Chief Pharmacist for a 440 bed general hospital in Cambridgeshire.
Past/Present clients Previously Sysop on CompuServe UK Professionals forum.
Question My 3 year old grandson got stung by a bee last night....I gave him 5mg of
loratidine this am, and at 3:30 the site of the sting looked very inflamed but he
was otherwise ok, but I gave him another loratidine.....his mom said he could
take a whole one, so I gave him 10mgs. forgetting that you are only supposed to
take them every 24 hours. Have I overdosed him??????? Please help!!!
Answer Nancy
Based on the UK paediatric reference (BNF for Children), the maximum daily dose of Loratidine for a 3 year old child is 5mg in 24 hours. See http://bnfc.org/bnfc/bnfc/current/3026.htm
Technically therefore receiving 15mg within 24 hours is an overdose. However, the risks of serious consequences are small. If you click on the Side Effects link on the page above, you will see details of common and more extreme symptoms.
My suggestion would be to contact your local hospital and speak to the staff in the Emergency Department or paediatric ward. If they feel it necessary for your grandson to be seen, then obviously this should happen. As he has also suffered the bee sting, they may wish to ensure that the sting has been removed and there is no developing infection. However, they may equally be happy to allow you to keep him under close supervision and only go to hospital if problems develop.
Either way, the risk of long-term problems is very small and other than possible drowsiness, your grandson may not notice what has happened.
