Question
How do I give my baby nevirapine syrup?
30 March 2024. Related: All topics, Children, Pregnancy.
Hi, I have a newborn, I was given NPV at the hospital but they don’t give me anything to administer it. I have a pacifier medicinal thingy for babies that I can use but the medication is too thick. Can I mix it with his formula when I feed him in the morning? Please help urgently.
Answer
Hi there
Nevirapine for your baby should come as a syrup. It should also come with small measuring syringes so that you can get the right dose.
The syringes do not have a needle.
Please use the syringe to give the syrup to your baby.
If you didn’t get syringes, please go to any pharmacy and explain the problem and they should help you.
This will be better than mixing it with formula milk if this is how you are feeding your baby because your baby might not drink all the milk so would not get the right dose.
Congratulations too on your new baby :)
More information
This link has more info about nevirapine syrup and how to give it to your baby.
http://www.bcwomens.ca/Professional-Resources-site/Documents/Oak%20Tree/Nevirapine%20drug%20information_Parent%20or%20Caregiver.pdf
Selected text includes:
- Nevirapine is available as a sweet flavored syrup. Each milliliter (mL) contains 10 mg of the medication (written as 10 mg/mL on the label).
- Nevirapine should be should be given once daily at the same time of day on the dates specified in the above schedule. The first dose will have already been given to the baby in hospital. Depending on when the baby goes home he/she may require the second and/or third doses to be given at home.
- Always measure each dose with the specially marked oral syringe provided.
- Nevirapine can be given before, after or during a feed. To give the medicine, gently place the oralsyringe in the baby’s mouth just inside the cheek and give 4 or 5 gentle pushes on the plunger of the syringe. Allow the baby to swallow the liquid between pushes on the plunger to ensure that the baby does not gag or choke. Ensure that the baby receives the full dose of nevirapine.
- It is not a good idea to mix nevirapine with the baby’s formula. The reason is that if the baby doesnot drink all of the formula, he/she will not get the full dose.
- Store the medication at room temperature. Do not store in your bathroom as heat and moisture may cause the medicine to lose its effectiveness.
- Keep out of the reach of children. The doctor or the Poison Control Centre should be contacted in the event of accidental ingestion of this or any other medication.
What should you do if your baby MISSES a dose
- If you forget to give your baby his/her dose of nevirapine, give it to him/her as soon as possible. If it is the next day, give the baby his/her missed dose and carry on with the regular schedule.
- If your baby vomits within 15 minutes of the dose, give another dose if possible. If it is more than 15 minutes after the dose, do NOT give another dose just wait until the next regular dose.
- It is very important not to miss any doses of this medicine. If you are having trouble remembering to give this medication, you may find it helpful to set an alarm on your watch or your phone to help to remind you.
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