O.R.S Oral Hydration Tablets

Department of Pharmacy

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ORS Oral Hydration leaflet PIAG 424 (302kB)

Introduction

Your child has been prescribed Oral Rehydration Salts in the form of lemon, blackcurrent or strawberry flavour soluble tablets called O.R.S Hydration Tablets.

How to take your medicine

The O.R.S Hydration Tablets will need to be fully dissolved in water before you give them to your child. It is important to use the right amount of water to make up the medicine, as too much or too little can mean the salts in your child’s body are not properly balanced.
You should only use water to mix with the oral rehydration salts;
- Use freshly boiled and cooled tap water for infants up to the age of 2 years, and if your child receives their oral rehydration salts via an enteral feeding tube.
- You can use fresh drawn tap water for children 2 years and over.
The prepared solution can be kept for 24 hours in the refrigerator or 8 hours at room temperature.

How much to give

Your doctor will work out the amount of oral rehydration salts (the dose) that is right for your child. Encourage your child to drink as much as they can of the recommended dose.

Oral Rehydration Salts: Soluble Tablets

HOW TO PREPARE BEFORE GIVING TO YOUR CHILD

Dissolve TWO tablets in 200ml (approx.. 7 fl oz) of drinking water (Do not use more or less than 200ml water per 2 tablets)

Dose for children aged 2 years and older: Sip 200ml of the O.R.S solution after each loose motion. If you child is being sick, take the solution in small sips.

Dose for infants up to the age of 2 years (bottle fed): Give one to one and a half the normal 24 hour feed volume of O.R.S solution over 24 hours. If your baby is being sick, this can be given gradually e.g. 5 to 10ml every 5 minutes.

Dose for infants up to the age of 2 years (breast fed): As for bottle fed infants and then put on breast till satisfied. If your baby is being sick, this can be given gradually e.g. 5 to 10ml every 5 minutes.

General advice about medicines

Never give medicines prescribed for your child to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same, as this could do harm.
If you think someone else may have taken the medicine by accident, contact your doctor straight away.
Make sure that you always have enough medicine. Order a new prescription at least 2 weeks before you will run out.
Make sure that the medicine you have at home has not reached the ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date on the packaging. Give old medicines to your pharmacist to dispose of.
This leaflet should be read with any manufacturers’ patient information. You must always discuss individual treatment with the appropriate member of staff.

Who to contact for further details

If you have any questions about your medication whilst you are in hospital, please do not hesitate to ask one of the Pharmacy team, alternatively you can telephone us on 0151 252 5311.

This leaflet only gives general information. You must always discuss the individual treatment of your child with the appropriate member of staff. Do not rely on this leaflet alone for information about your child’s treatment.

This information can be made available in other languages and formats if requested.