How to Measure Liquid Medicine with a Syringe in 10 Easy Steps

Many common medications are available in liquid dosage forms. From cough syrups to antibiotics, liquid medicines come as over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription products. Many children’s medications come in liquid forms because they’re easier to swallow than pills. Liquid medicines aren’t just for kids, though. Some adults prefer this dosage form, too.

If you’re administering a liquid dosage form, it’s essential to use a device that measures an accurate dose. Oral syringes are among the most popular and reliable dosing devices available. Knowing how to measure liquid medicine with a syringe or other dosing device can help you get a safe and accurate dose every time.

When are syringes used to administer medicine?

When many people think of a syringe, they picture a person getting an injection. Syringes are commonly used for IV, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injections. Depending on the scenario, an injection may be the best way to administer a medication. And a syringe is often a necessary part of that process.

Aside from injections, syringes are also used to administer liquid medicines by mouth. Oral syringes look a bit different from injectable syringes. They don’t include a needle, and they may have a tapered end where the medication comes out.

Many young children can’t swallow pills. Liquid dosage forms offer an easy-to-swallow alternative. Common liquid medicines for children include antibiotics, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Many medications for adults also offer liquid formulations. For example, the OTC sleep aid ZzzQuil (diphenhydramine) comes as an oral liquid.

How to measure medicine with an oral syringe in 10 steps

To measure liquid medicine with a syringe, start by gathering your supplies: syringe, medication bottle, and small cup. Place them on a flat sturdy surface, such as a table, where you’ll draw up a dose. Then, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good alternative if you’re not near a sink and soap.

Now, you’re ready to measure the liquid medicine with a syringe. The 10 steps below explain how:

1. Some unused syringes come wrapped and have a protective cap on the syringe tip. If this is the case for your syringe, unwrap it and remove the protective cap. Throw these packaging materials away in your regular trash container.

2. Find the line on the side of the syringe that marks the dose you’ll be drawing up. You may want to mark this with a permanent marker, so you can see it more easily while drawing up your dose. Oral syringes are typically marked with milliliter measurements. Common syringe sizes are 1 mL, 5 mL, and 10 mL.

3. If needed, shake the medication bottle. The labels on liquid medicine bottles usually indicate if you should shake it before measuring a dose. Oral suspensions typically require you to shake them before use. Oral solutions or syrups usually don’t. If the bottle’s label doesn’t say whether to shake it, ask a pharmacist if you need to complete this step.

4. Remove the cap from the liquid medicine bottle. Pour some of the liquid into a small cup.

5. Put the tip of the syringe in the liquid medicine that’s in the cup. Draw up the desired amount of liquid medication by pulling the plunger away from the syringe barrel.

6. Check to see if the top of the plunger lines up with the measurement line for the desired dose. Make sure the entire tip of the syringe is filled with the medication. This is important to get the right dose.

7. Get rid of any air bubbles by pointing the syringe tip upward and gently tapping the side of the barrel. Air bubbles should rise to the syringe tip. Slowly push the air out of the syringe.

8. Confirm that the dose is correct while holding the syringe at eye level. If additional medication is needed, draw more up from the cup. If too much is in the syringe, put some back into the liquid medicine bottle.

9. Administer the liquid medicine to yourself or your loved one by placing the syringe tip into the mouth and pushing the plunger toward the barrel. Don’t squirt the liquid medicine directly into the back of the throat, since this can cause you or your loved one to choke. Aim for either the tongue or cheek area when giving a dose.

10. Pour any excess liquid left in the cup back into the bottle and recap it. Wash the syringe and the cup with soap and water. Let the syringe fully air dry before using it again.

Good to know: Some liquid medicines come with a cone-shaped device called a bottle adapter. It allows you to attach the syringe to the bottle when drawing up medication instead of pouring the liquid into a cup. Your pharmacist can provide more detailed instructions on how to measure liquid medicine if you’re using a bottle adapter.

What other liquid medicine measuring devices are there?

Aside from oral syringes, there are a few other liquid medicine dosing devices available. Dosing cups and dosing spoons are also accurate devices you can use to measure liquid medicine.

But research suggests that oral syringes are more accurate for measuring precise amounts. For instance, dosing cups and dosing spoons commonly only have measurements marked in 5 mL or 10 mL increments. But some syringes allow you to measure doses in 0.1 mL increments. So if you need to measure very small doses, an oral syringe would be the best choice.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Answers about children’s antibiotics: Read answers to common questions about liquid antibiotics, including proper storage and potential side effects.

• Parenting hack: Pharmacists share tips for getting your toddler to take medication without a fight.

• Hidden dangers: Experts review the most common causes of accidental medication overdoses in children.

When should you dispose of dosing devices?

There’s no research-backed answer for when to throw dosing devices away. But most devices that come with liquid medicines are intended to be used for the entire time you’re taking the medication.

Washing your dosing device with soap and warm water after each use can help it last longer, especially if you’ll be using it for multiple doses. If you start to notice a syringe getting stuck during use or your device doesn’t appear clean after washing it, it’s time to throw it away. When in doubt, use a new one.

Why shouldn’t you use household spoons to measure liquid medicine?

Although household spoons seem convenient to use, they’re inaccurate when it comes to measuring liquid medications. This is because they can vary in size and hold different amounts of liquid. As a result, household spoons often measure too much or too little medication. Measuring errors can be harmful. But they’re avoidable if you use an accurate dosing device.

One study found that nearly 40% of parents made a mistake when measuring a liquid medicine for their child. And those who used household spoons were twice as likely to make a mistake compared with those using proper dosing devices.

Can you use baking spoons to measure liquid medicine?

Maybe. It’s not ideal to use a baking spoon to measure liquid medication. But it could be an option in a pinch if you don’t have a dosing device.

Baking spoons, as opposed to other household spoons, are generally accurate and hold standardized amounts of liquid. But it’s easier to spill liquid medicine when using them for this purpose. You’re less likely to spill medication when you use a dosing device.

What should you do if you lose a dosing device?

If you lose a dosing device, don’t panic. Oftentimes, pharmacists will include a few additional spoons, cups, or syringes with your prescription. But you can always ask for extra if you think you may need them.

If you lost the dosing device for an OTC liquid medicine, ask a pharmacist. They might give you a replacement for free. If not, you can generally buy extra dosing devices — for just a few dollars — without a prescription at pharmacies, grocery stores, and other retailers.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Abigail Valente, PharmD Candidate

Abigail has gained experience in many areas of pharmacy practice — including inpatient, outpatient, and community settings — through her doctoral program. Abigail is also a member in good standing of several leading pharmacy organizations, such as APhA, ASHP, and CPFI, where she has helped patients through volunteer work and community health events.

Reviewed by:

Matthew Kwan, PharmD Candidate

Matthew Kwan, PharmD Candidate works as a pharmacy intern with Meijer and has 3 years of patient care pharmacy experience. He was also a member of Butler University's Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society and served as a tutor for underclassmen.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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