FAQ

Answers to Your Questions About Pedialyte Products

• What is Pedialyte?
  Pedialyte is an oral electrolyte solution that is specifically designed to replace vital minerals and nutrients that are lost when a child has diarrhea with or without vomiting. Pedialyte is effective because it contains only a small amount of sugar (dextrose) that is balanced with appropriate levels of minerals. Pedialyte is designed with this precise combination of sugars and electrolytes to promote fluid and electrolyte absorption. In general, common household beverages such as sports drinks, sweetened sodas, and juices are too high in carbohydrates (sugar) and too low in sodium — an important electrolyte that is lost during diarrhea and vomiting.
• Why are sweeteners added to Pedialyte? Why not just add sugar to make it sweeter?
  Pedialyte contains the quantity and ratio of sugar (dextrose) and minerals (electrolytes) recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This precise balance of sugar and electrolytes makes Pedialyte effective in the management, treatment, and prevention of dehydration due to diarrhea with or without vomiting. Without added sweeteners, Pedialyte is not sweet enough for many children to drink. Adding sugar to Pedialyte may make diarrhea worse by drawing water into the intestine, increasing the risk of dehydration. Adding sweeteners makes Pedialyte taste good without the risks of adding sugar. When Pedialyte tastes good, children drink enough of it to maintain hydration and replace needed minerals when they have diarrhea and vomiting.
• How much Pedialyte should I give my child? How often should I give my child Pedialyte?
  For infants under 1 year of age: Consult your doctor. To help restore vital minerals and nutrients lost in children 1 year of age and older, offer Pedialyte every 1 to 4 hours. To help maintain the proper hydration, the child should consume 4-8 servings (32 to 64 fl oz) per day of any Pedialyte product for as long as diarrhea continues. If there is also vomiting or fever, or if diarrhea continues beyond 24 hours, consult your child's pediatrician.
  
  Pedialyte tastes best when served cold. Encourage your child to take small, frequent sips.
• If my child won't drink Pedialyte, can I give her/him a sports drink? Why is Pedialyte a better choice than sports drinks or juice when a child needs to be rehydrated?
  Often, a child needs to be rehydrated after diarrhea. Drinks that contain too much sugar, like sports drinks, soda, or juice, can draw water into the intestine, making diarrhea worse and increasing the risk of dehydration. Pedialyte contains an effective balance of sugar (dextrose) and minerals (electrolytes), helping to prevent dehydration during diarrhea and vomiting. This balance is not contained in sports drinks or juice.
  
  To see how Pedialyte differs from sugary sports drinks, juices, and soda, watch therapeutic hydration in action on our full site.
• What are the amounts, in milligrams, of sodium, potassium, and chloride in Pedialyte?
  The approximate sodium, potassium, and chloride amounts in Pedialyte are listed below.
  
  

  Sodium	Potassium	Chloride
  244 mg (10.6 mEq) per 8 fl oz 1035 mg (45 mEq) per liter	184 mg (4.7 mEq) per 8 fl oz 782 mg (20 mEq) per liter	294 mg (8.3 mEq) per 8 fl oz 1239 mg (35 mEq) per liter

• Can an adult use Pedialyte?
  Yes, in general, an adult may use Pedialyte; there are no contraindications for its use in adults. Pedialyte should be used as recommended by a health care professional who has evaluated the appropriateness of Pedialyte for the person and the condition in question.
• Is Pedialyte OK for someone with diabetes?
  Pedialyte is used to help restore vital minerals and nutrients lost during diarrhea and vomiting. While it does contain carbohydrates, it may or may not contain enough carbohydrates for someone with diabetes, especially if insulin is being used. Parents of children with diabetes should check with their pediatrician for specific guidelines on using Pedialyte.
• Does Pedialyte help stop diarrhea and vomiting?
  No. Pedialyte is not indicated to stop diarrhea and vomiting, but it does help prevent the dehydration that can occur as a result of these symptoms. Unlike sugary sports drinks, juices, and soda, which can make diarrhea even worse, Pedialyte is formulated with a special balance of sugar (dextrose) and minerals (electrolytes), which promotes absorption and hydration.
• Can I use Pedialyte past the expiration date?
  Abbott has many quality measures in place to assure our products are of the highest quality. Our products are stamped with a Use-By date, which can be found on the container. Abbott does not recommend consuming any product after the Use-By date listed on each package.
• How many grams of sugar/carbohydrates are in this product?
  The sugar/carbohydrate used in Pedialyte, which is an ingredient called dextrose, is listed below, per formulation.
  
  

  Formulation	Sugar (Dextrose)
  Singles	5.3-5.6 g per 200 mL/6.8 fl oz
  Powder Packs	5.7 g per 8.5 g pack reconstituted with 8 fl oz water
  Freezer Pops	25 g per Liter
  Liter	25 g per Liter

• Where can I get Pedialyte?
  Pedialyte is available in most retail and pharmacy locations. To find Pedialyte near you, use our Store Locator
• What aisle of the store is it in?
  Typically, Pedialyte is located in the baby/toddler aisle, but some retail locations stock it in the pharmacy as well.

• Why does the Pedialyte label say, "For infants under 1 year of age, consult your doctor?"
  This recommendation is intended to assure the proper evaluation and treatment plan for infants who take Pedialyte. A baby is at much greater risk of dehydration than an older child is, and it is important to encourage parents to discuss their baby's condition with a physician before rehydration during diarrhea and vomiting.
• Can I mix Pedialyte with formula?
  No, we do not recommend mixing Pedialyte with formula. When Pedialyte and formula are mixed together, the nutrient and mineral content of both would change, along with the osmolality. The mixture could also become clumpy and hard for your baby to drink.
• Should I continue breastfeeding while giving my baby Pedialyte?
  While it is recommended that an infant or child continue breastfeeding during bouts of diarrhea and vomiting, since each situation is different, we suggest consulting with your health care provider to determine the best course of action for your child.

• Can I mix Pedialyte with water? Apple juice? Ginger ale?
  Pedialyte's specific blend of minerals and nutrients contains appropriate and balanced amounts of sugars and electrolytes in a particular quantity of fluid. This formulation is important for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in children who have abnormal losses, such as can happen with diarrhea. If other fluids are added, the quantities and ratios of electrolytes and sugars may be altered, making the product less effective. Additionally, adding other sweetened fluids could draw water back into the intestine and make diarrhea even worse. Therefore, no other fluids should be mixed with Pedialyte unless recommended by a health care professional. And it's important to note that when mixing Pedialyte Powder Packs, only 8 fl oz of water should be used per pack.
  
  If the taste of Unflavored Pedialyte is a concern, Pedialyte is available in a variety of flavors*: Fruit, Strawberry, Grape, Cherry, Apple, Fruit Punch, and Bubble Gum. Also, Pedialyte Freezer Pops come in Grape, Cherry, Blue Raspberry, and Orange.
  
  ^*Natural and artificial flavors
• Why does Pedialyte need to be discarded in 48 hrs?
  Once Pedialyte is opened/prepared, environmental microorganisms can potentially come into contact with the product from the air or from direct contact. For example, if someone touches the surface from which the product is poured, any bacteria on the person's hands can be transferred to the product. This is called touch contamination. The bacteria grow slowly at refrigerator temperatures, but over time, the amount of bacteria can become significant. Children with gastroenteritis are at increased risk of a second infection from these bacteria as their immune system is already working to fight the gastroenteritis.
• Can I freeze Pedialyte (not the Freezer Pops)?
  We do not recommend freezing any of our Pedialyte products unless they are specifically designed to be frozen, like Pedialyte Freezer Pops. Pedialyte Freezer Pops contain an ingredient (carboxymethylcellulose) which keeps the pops from freezing solid (like ice cubes) and allows them to be more "bite-able." Pedialyte liquid or reconstituted Pedialyte Powder does not contain this ingredient.