Patient education: Side effects from medicines in children – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").

What should I know? — 

Your child was seen in the ED because they had a side effect from a medicine. This is an unintended or unwanted effect that medicines can cause. It is also called an "adverse reaction" or "adverse effect."

Almost any medicine can cause side effects. This includes prescription medicines and those sold over the counter ("OTC"). When side effects happen, it is usually after starting a new medicine or increasing the dose. Side effects can also happen if a person stops taking a medicine. (This is also called "discontinuation syndrome" or "withdrawal.")

Common mild side effects include upset stomach, nausea, dry mouth, drowsiness, and minor headache. Side effects can also be dangerous or even life-threatening, for example, liver, kidney, or heart problems. An allergic reaction is a serious type of side effect, but not all side effects are allergies.

The doctor thinks the medicine that caused your child's side effect is ___________________________.

How do I care for my child at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also do the following:

●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.

●If the doctors in the ED told your child to stop taking a medicine, tell their regular doctor.

●Help your child take all their medicines as instructed. Make sure you know when and how they should take each medicine.

●Some side effects go away over time. As your child's body gets used to the medicine, the side effect might go away.

●If the doctor thinks your child's side effect was due to a drug allergy, tell your child's regular doctor and any other doctors or nurses who care for them. It is very important they avoid taking that medicine.

When should I get emergency help?

●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if your child:

•Has wheezing or trouble breathing

•Has chest pain or tightness

•Passes out, or feels like they might pass out

•Has swelling of their face, lips, tongue, or throat

•Has a seizure

●Return to the ED if your child:

•Feels dizzy or lightheaded

•Has pain, irritation, or blisters on their skin, lips, eyes, genitals, or inside their mouth

•Is confused

•Has black bowel movements, or yellow skin or eyes

•Has thoughts of hurting themselves or someone else

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if your child:

●Has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, along with pain, weakness, and lack of energy

●Has hives (raised patches of skin that are usually very itchy)

●Has dark urine

●Has a stomach ache, is vomiting, or has diarrhea

●Has no appetite

●Has new or worsening symptoms

More on this topic

Patient education: Side effects from medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Drug allergy (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Medication safety (The Basics)