Mumsnet Talk

My ds (15 months) has started refusing Calpol from either a syringe or a spoon. Up to now he's been fine with it although he hasn't had it that often. This week when he had a cold and a high temp he started refusing it and now when we use a little gentle force it he gags and throws it up. We managed to give it to him in milk which worked once until he got wise. Is there an alternative? Has anyone used the paracetemol suppositries and do you have to get them prescribed by the GP? Does anyone have any tips for hiding it in drinks? There are a lot of flus going round here and I would like an alternative on hand in case he gets another high temperature.

I had the same problem with DD1 when she was little. I got my parents to send me suppositories from back home as apparently here you can only get them in hospital.

I have never tried myself but maybe you could dilute the Calpol in a little bit of juice?

Thanks for that - maybe if I got strawberry flavoured juice he wouldn't be able to taste the calpol. I might phone the GP and ask about alternatives.

Ask your gp to prescribe the suppositories. My dd refused to take oral paracetamol and we went down the rectal route. Cost in the Middle east was the same as medicine, in the UK it's a different matter. As they are not given out routinely we paid (I think) around a tenner for eight. We never went on holiday without them again.

calpol used to make my ds1 hyper when he was younger so i only ever gave him the paracetamol suppositories (until he turned about 3 and has been fine ever since with calpol)

you can buy alvodon (paracetamol suppos) over the counter in most good chemists but it is much cheaper to get them prescribed by your gp

kreecherlivesupstairs , I was always refused them at all the chemists I have visited in the UK They never once said anything about me being able to pay for them at all. In fact I felt like a child abuser the way they answered to me that "In this country we do not normally give suppositories to children" in a very patronising tone! Glad you had better luck!

Zonedout, were you able to purchase them over the counter recently? I was always refused them !(hence me asking for them to be sent from abroad).

DS will take medicine from a spoon quite happily, but DD was v awkward.

We found a calpol sundae did the trick, mix the dose with a tablespoon full of ice cream. She didn't have ice cream very often so she was none the wiser.

Can follow it with a scoop of non tainted icecream if you are feeling kind. But I only mixed it with a small amount so I could be sure she took the full dose.

dd1 (age 3) will not take medicene from a spoon - she has had medicine very rarely in her life luckily. Recently she has been quite ill, a nasty & prolonged case of slapped cheek followed by a current horrid case of croup .
I cannot get calpol into her, despite numerous incentives she spits it straight out again, so on gp's advice I am crushing half a paracetamol (250mg is her dose by weight) & mixing it with a small amount of nutella. First time I have ever ever ever seen her enthusiastic about medicine!

Thanks everyone - I'm really nervous about not having anything in the house as there is suspected Swine Flu at my husband's work now. I'm off to the chemist tomorrow to try and get the suppositries - otherwise I'll phone the GP on Monday.

gorionine, i probably last bought some about 18 months ago at a guess. never had a problem, both from my local friendly pharmacist and from unknown chemists. have even asked for them to be ordered in if none in stock. my sis-in-law is from finland and only knows suppositories for kids as pain relief. in fact, she even used to bring me ibuprofen suppositories back!

she probably knows whats good for her. Calpol is a drug, its not sweets, it should only really be used very sparingly.

DS will suck calpol out of the sachet when he won't take it off the spoon - well worth a try

Update- went to Boots and the pharmacist said she could sell me the suppositries but would have to order the right dose in. She said they were really expensive - about £13 for 10 so she said I should get the GP to prescribe them for me.
Tried the sugar calpol tonight - no joy so I'll phone the GP this week.