Medised?

[fifitot]

Can you still get it? 3 yr old got really bad cold and we've all been up most of the last 2 nights with her coughing etc. She is knackered (I am too of course, but nothing new there!). She needs a good night's sleep tbh. Is it still available?

[GhostWriter]

Not for 3yr olds it isn't.

[heavenstobetsy]

As far as I'm aware - bought a bottle in Boots last week and it still says 'from 2' on the packet

[fifitot]

Thanks will try Boots.

[mwff]

our newish bottle says 2+

[DorotheaPlenticlew]

So does ours, but I think in actual fact the packaging just hasn't caught up with The Law. Don't they have to be 6 or something now? It keeps going up.

If you go to Boots and say your DD is 3, I'm not sure they'll let you buy it. Whether there is any actual problem with giving her a small dose, I don't know, I'd guess it would be OK though ... anyone know?

[Seona1973]

you may not be sold it as it is now for over 6's despite what the box says.

List of medicines for under/over 6's

[mwff]

i'm more than happy to give it to my 2 yr old (when required, almost always when she has a cough as the antihistamine stops post nasal drip thus reducing cough iirc). has always been safe when used alone it's the risk of overdosing when using other paracetamol containing products that's the issue.

[Seona1973]

According to this it is more to do with side effects than accidental overdose.

[mwff]

interesting. so the sedative effect (medised) is considered a side effect now?

[mwff]

btw thanks for link, i wasn't aware of the new advice (overdose was what was cited at the time it was withdrawn wasn't it?). i might reconsider in that light...

[ThisBoyDerekDrew]

The sedating effect has always been a Side effect of anti-histamines in general.

The makers of Medised just caught onto it and used it as a marketting gimick.

[mwff]

i suppose i thought it was an intended effect, rather than a side effect iyswim. although obviously there's a whole nother issue around the wisdom or otherwise of sedating children.

[ThisBoyDerekDrew]

No the intended effect is the drying of mucous widening of nasal passages, at least in the case of medised

[Reallytired]

You cannot get medised for a three year old. I think its a pity as its excellent stuff when used properly. The problem is that some parents abused it. Or they were too thick and combined it with other paracentanol medicines.

It might be worth seeing if you can get on prescription or if a pharmatist will sell it to you if you have a doctor's letter.

[nickytwotimes]

Afaik, pharmacists will not sell it for use in under 12s now.
I still have some that I give to 3 yr old ds if he has a really bad cold. I am friends with several nurses and a couple of docs who do the same. It is VERY VERY dangerous in overdose, so it has to be used with extreme caution. On the rare occassion I have used it, I have asked dh to double check the dosage as an extra precaution.

[mwff]

so that's the "eases breathing" bit on the bottle? what about "promotes restful sleep" and the -sed bit of the name, doesn't that imply that sedation is intended?

[Reallytired]

You can still get medised over the internet. I think that nickytwotimes is exaggerating the risks. Ofcouse its dangerous in overdose, but so are a lot of medicines like calpol.

I would try other methods of easing breathing like a humdifier or oil of olbas before restorting to medised.

I suggest you talk to your GP, then you can get medised and you will be given the correct dosing instructions.

It used to be legal to give medised to a three month old baby. I think its prefectly save for a three year old to have it.

I am sure its possible to buy medised online for an over six year old.

[ThisBoyDerekDrew]

Promotes erstful sleep will be because they can breathe through their snuffles (at least formally).

Before medised was marketed the sedating effects were known - and it may well have been named on this basis - but drowsiness is not what an anti-histamine was developed for. It is a side effect, as it is not the primary medical indication.

[ThisBoyDerekDrew]

It is not recommened for under 12s.
It is not licensed for use under 6s.

Which means you can buy it for 6-12yos but you may be advised against it and I think (based on MN posts) a few pharmacists have refused it to under 12's - but there is no legal requirement to prevent it's sale under 12's.

[nickytwotimes]

I am not exagerating.
It is more dangerous in OD than calpol due to the antihistamine. A couple of kids have died in the past and though this is really rare, people should treat it with respect. This is aside from the danger of OD in combination with calpol due to people not reading labels properly.
As I say, I give it to my 3 yr old, but with great care, like everyone else here.

[mwff]

interesting discussion, thanks. i think something like this can be difficult for parents like me who have been told something was safe to use for a particular age group in the past but then the guidelines change. and it can be hard to accept that the guidelines overrule our experience (that it's safe/effective).

but now i'm aware of the full advice i don't think i'd use it again for my 2 year old.

[Meglet]

If you want to be extra careful go and see your GP. Mine prescribed it for my DD, he just said to give it very very sparingly and only when the child really is poorly and bunged up. He was fine about it.

Boots only have it available for over 12's now last time I looked.

[fifitot]

I got Calpol night instead. I didn't ask for Medised. Boots didn't ask me anything.