Q: My child vomited after taking antibiotics and doing a nebulizer treatment. Should I give another dose?

Myeongchan Kim, MD
6 hours ago
2 min read

Medically reviewed by Sang Hyun Ahn, MD

Content edited by Myeongchan Kim, MD

This post is a dramatization of a question and answer session experienced by our actual medical reviewers. Please note that this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.

Question:

My child took their evening medicine (which included antibiotics) around 7:40 PM. We did a nebulizer treatment at 8:00 PM. Around 8:30 PM, they coughed and vomited a little bit of phlegm. Then, at 9:30 PM, they had a severe coughing fit and vomited about two more times. I cannot tell if the medicine was absorbed or not. Should I give them another dose of the evening medicine right now?

Answer:

It can be very stressful when a child vomits shortly after taking their medication, but you can usually determine the next steps based on the timeline.

Here are the general guidelines for re-administering medication after vomiting:

• Within 30 minutes: Consider giving another full dose.

• Between 30 minutes and 1 hour: Consider giving a half dose.

• After 1 hour: Re-dosing is generally not necessary, as the medication has mostly been absorbed.

Looking at your child's specific timeline:

• Medication was taken at 7:40 PM.

• The first mild vomiting occurred around 8:30 PM (50 minutes later).

• The second vomiting episode occurred at 9:30 PM (1 hour and 50 minutes later).

Since 50 minutes had passed before the first episode of vomiting, and nearly two hours had passed before the second episode, it is highly likely that the medication was already sufficiently absorbed into their system.

Recommendations for tonight:

Do not re-administer the medication. Giving another dose right now increases the risk of an overdose.
Give the next dose at the regularly scheduled time tomorrow morning. Because antibiotics need to be taken consistently, just return to your normal schedule.
To help relieve the coughing, offer frequent, small sips of warm water and run a humidifier in the room.
Let your child sleep with their upper body slightly elevated to help reduce coughing and prevent further vomiting.

When to see a doctor:

Please seek immediate medical evaluation if your child develops any of the following symptoms:

• Persistent breathing difficulties or wheezing.

• Continuous vomiting that prevents them from keeping any fluids or future medications down.

• Signs of dehydration, such as not passing urine for 8 hours or more.