New research says a shortage of pediatric medication in Canada last year led to a spike of dosing errors in Ontario children.
A shortage of children’s ibuprofen and acetaminophen caused parents to crush up adult pills to treat their children.
The researchers found a twofold increase in calls to the Ontario Poison Centre for unintentional dosing errors for patients 18 years old or younger last fall compared to the four years prior.
Jonathan Zipursky, lead author of the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, says the research highlights the dangers associated with trying to use adult medication for kids.