Have you ever finished up medicine too soon? Were you using a teaspoon you got out of your kitchen to give your child his medicine? A medically defined teaspoon contains an exact 5 cc of liquid. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, common household teaspoons may vary from 1/2 to 1 1/2 "teaspoons" and problems occur when there's a difference of 10% more or less for most medications. There can be problems of toxicity and complications. There are other factors which make the common teaspoon a poor choice. The same teaspoon can hold as little as 3 cc or as much as 7 cc when different people do the pouring. Some medications are not so sensitive that complete accuracy is essential, but many are. Some pharmacies now include measuring devices with their prescriptions. If yours doesn't, make sure you purchase one so that you can be assured of accuracy.