How do your schools handle OTC meds?

[MushyMushy]

Like most schools, the kids aren't permitted to carry any type of OTC meds with them to school, even cough drops. In order for them to take anything like that, even Motrin for cramps or headaches, we have to have a slip from the doctor.

I can remember when I was in school, all it took was a letter from the parents. Does anybody's school still allow a letter from the parents?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Elementary and middle they need the doctor signed slip to take meds in the nurses office, although, most of the middle school kids have meds in their locker and ignore that rule. I make 8th grade dd follow it.

With HS you can have the doctors note on file in the nurses and then carry the OTC on your person.

Prescription meds have to be kept at the nurses office, unless it is an emergency med like a rescue inhaler or epi pen.

Of course HS students ignore the rules naturally. I always had my dd follow the rules because all you needed was a signature on a piece of paper and turn it in at the nurses. I did not want her to get in trouble and also would want the nurses in the office to monitor med taking at school.

 

[lovetoscrap]

We just have to fill out a form for the meds. It does have a line that says "prescribed by" but no dr signature is required. We just fill in their doctor's name. It is the same form for prescription meds also so no dr signature is required for those either, but I am pretty sure the prescription information has to be on the package.

But for OTC in elementary school the parent has to bring it in and pick it up. DD had some allergy symptoms and needed some meds at lunch one day and it was easier to just go up there and give them myself than to drive up in the am, fill out the paperwork and then go back to pick them up later. For Middle and High School they have let DD bring in her Tylenol herself.

They can carry an inhaler with a form filled out and signed by a doctor. Not sure what they do for Epi Pens.

 

[kamik86]

In my high school we were able to carry them ourselves but that was a few years ago.

The camp I worked at during college required the parents to sign a form and they had to give permission for each specific type of medicine (instead of telling us what they couldn't have which would be easier).

To make this easier we had a list on the form of pretty much everything the camp had so parents didn't have to guess at what their kid may need (tylenol and benadryl are easy but some things I wouldn't think of that they may end up needing... like an ointment if they get burnt)

 

[minkydog]

I'm a school nurse. In my school system, HS students are allowed to carry OTC meds at all times, with no permission forms. They're supposed to turn prescription meds in to the clinic--a lot of those meds have street value so we don't want kids walking around school with them. In k-8, students are allowed to take meds at school only if the parent has signed a permission form AND provided to medication. There are no big bottles of tylenol sitting around. Of course, students who need inhalers, epipens, or insulin are allowed to carry these drugs at all times. We try to get a form signed by the parents, so we can at least know who's got what on them.

 

[dawson5]

In grade school, if it was OTC I just went in and filled out a form. They would hold on to it until the end of the year. It had to be picked up then or it would be thrown out. For prescribed meds, needed the pill bottle, didn't have to be full, but had to be current when brought in. Same procedure with MS and HS that I've run into. They keep them there until the end of the year. Only difference in all that I've seen, is with cough drops. In grade school they had to be kept with the nurse, in MS and HS, they can be kept on them. Cannot have tylenol/mydol/etc. on them. There are provisions like some the PP have said, with parent and doctor authorization, they can have the things like epi-pens in their possession. All forms filled out and has to be brought in by a parent.

I think our student handbook outlines that kids with OTC medications can be punished for having it without proper authorization (has to be brought in by a parent and the proper form filled out). They can also get in a lot of trouble for giving something as simple as a tylenol to a friend.

 

[KAMLEM]

My girls are allowed to carry OTC meds to their high school. Thank goodness because DD16 NEEDS her Midol!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I wish our High School was more reasonable like it sounds like many of yours are. If they are caught with a medicine of any kind, including OTC, without the proper authorization then it is a punishable offense. Even for band activities she can't have her own Ibuprofen or anything. I am not sure what the official policy is for that but I am good friends with several of the chaperon moms so they take care of her if she needs something.

But, the school nurses also have a stash of basics like cough drops and tylenol and if really needed the nurse will call and accept verbal permission over the phone and give them something, which I really appreciate.

 

[Pooh Crew]

I know that our new nurse was telling everyone that OTC meds had to be approved by the dr, but that had not been the case, so we checked with the district office. The nurse was wrong. OTC meds just needed a parent's signature, not a dr's. Maybe you could check with someone a little higher up to verify that you are all getting the correct information.

 

[Tinkermommy]

In our school district OTC meds require a form that the parent fills out and the medication in it's original packaging.

 

[golfgal]

In our middle and high school we can sign a line on the back to school emergency form that allows the nurse to give out Tylenol/ibuprofen without calling the parents before and another line that allows the kids to have and take that on their own. Kids can also carry inhalers/epipens. Other OTC meds like cough meds, I am not sure about but my guess is those would have to be kept in the nurses office and taken in there (never sent those with the kids). Cough drops I have just written a note. I don't know if they need it but I send one.

 

[Pigeon]

OP, ours is like yours. Total ridiculous pain in the rear. DD will be in tears from cramps, but is too embarassed to ask to go to the nurse during class, and has a schedule with no breaks in it because of her class load.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

we were lucky and could carry our own- Thank goodness. I suffered from migranes and would have been lost if i couldnt have my own stash of meds.

 

[VAfamily1998]

At DS public school (5th grade) the teacher told us at the back to school night that all medications need to be kept at the nurse's office with a note. Medicated lip balm is considered a medication and needs to be kept at the nurse's office! That shocked me!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

At DS public school (5th grade) the teacher told us at the back to school night that all medications need to be kept at the nurse's office with a note. Medicated lip balm is considered a medication and needs to be kept at the nurse's office! That shocked me!

Thats so over the top. Lip balm. Really?

I send in cough drops with my kids when they need them. I have never been asked to send a note for them.

 

[disfan07]

AT my HS you were not allowed to carry ANYTHING. NO meds at all except for Inhalers with a doctors note. I dont know what they do for epi-pens. I didnt have mine when I was in high school.

You could get suspended for carrying tylenol.

 

[Hedy]

I wish our High School was more reasonable like it sounds like many of yours are. If they are caught with a medicine of any kind, including OTC, without the proper authorization then it is a punishable offense. Even for band activities she can't have her own Ibuprofen or anything. I am not sure what the official policy is for that but I am good friends with several of the chaperon moms so they take care of her if she needs something.

But, the school nurses also have a stash of basics like cough drops and tylenol and if really needed the nurse will call and accept verbal permission over the phone and give them something, which I really appreciate.

AT my HS you were not allowed to carry ANYTHING. NO meds at all except for Inhalers with a doctors note. I dont know what they do for epi-pens. I didnt have mine when I was in high school.

You could get suspended for carrying tylenol.

These were the rules of my high school. I remember once having gotten some claritin samples from my doctor, and having them in my purse. There was a bomb scare at school the next day, and I was terrified they'd do locker searches.
My PCOS was undiagnosed in high school, so you better believe that I was tempted to carry around illegal aleve.