Is it better to use syringes or medication cups?
A study involving three pediatric clinics tried to determine the best dosing tool for giving liquid medication to children. Each participating adult received a medication cup and a syringe. They were then asked to measure out liquid medicines in various doses. 84% of the errors occurred when using the medication cup, AND 68% of those errors involved giving too much medication.
The accuracy in the results was surprising! Most people use medication cups as they usually come with over-the-counter medicines. However, the best way to avoid making liquid medication mistakes is by using a syringe. This is the method we endorse the most here at the Missouri Poison Center.
Why Using Teaspoons May Be Inaccurate
Although spoons were not included in this study, they are commonly used in the home when measuring liquid medication. While they are great for eating soup and cereal, kitchen spoons are not accurate for measuring liquid medications. This is because spoons vary in size. Only a teaspoon measured in a proper measuring device is accurate. More often than not, a “teaspoon” may be mistaken for any vaguely small spoon. This may lead to some giving too much or too little liquid medication.
What if I use a measuring spoon?
This method is more accurate than using just any spoon in the kitchen. If the dosing calls for a teaspoon and you don’t have a syringe that has teaspoon measurements, then using a measuring spoon is the next best option. A measuring spoon will have a label telling you its measurement. If it doesn’t have a label (or it rubbed off and you’re not sure), use something else.
How to measure liquid medicine in a syringe
- Wash your hands before handling either the medication or the syringe.
- Shake the medication bottle if instructed. Remove the cap.
- Draw up the medicine by inserting the syringe tip into the liquid, either in the bottle or a small medicine cup. Slowly pull the plunger until you reach the correct dose marking on the syringe’s side.
- Remove any air bubbles by pointing the syringe tip up, gently tapping, and then pressing the plunger slightly to push out the air.
- Double-check the dose at eye level to ensure it’s accurate. Make sure the liquid and not the back of the plunger is at the line it needs to be at.
- Administer the medication by placing the syringe tip inside the mouth, aiming for the cheek or tongue (not the back of the throat). Slowly push the plunger to dispense the liquid.
How can I avoid making mistakes when measuring medicine?
Syringes are the best and most accurate tool for measuring liquid medication. Ask your pharmacist for a syringe with every prescription of liquid medication filled at your pharmacy. Review the correct measurement with the pharmacist before leaving the pharmacy so that you will know exactly how much medication to give to your child.
Always read the labels carefully. This includes both the liquid medicine and the syringe.
The Missouri Poison Center is available 24/7 to help answer your questions about how to give medication to your child. No call is too big or too small. Just call 1-800-222-1222.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some labels include both units to accommodate people familiar with household measurements. However, dual labeling may cause confusion. This increases the risk of dosing errors. The FDA recommends using milliliters only on labels and devices for clarity.
Yes. Studies show that the larger the intended dose, the greater the chance of error, particularly with dosing cups. This is because liquid may slosh on the sides or settle unevenly in the cup, making it harder to read the line at eye level.
Droppers are sometimes included with medications, especially for infants or eye/ear products. They can be accurate for very small volumes, but most droppers are not standardized and may lack clear markings, making syringes the safer choice for precision.
Many pharmacies automatically provide an oral syringe or dosing device with every prescription for liquid medication. If one isn’t included, it’s possible to ask for one.
Dosing syringes, cups, or droppers should not be reused for other medications unless thoroughly cleaned and labeled. Residue from past medications can linger and cause cross-contamination. For safety, it’s best to keep each device with the medication it came with and dispose of it after use.