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Original poster

Not sure if DH's logic is right?

32 replies

CraneBoysMysteries · 22/04/2023 13:07

Mishap with the shopping in the week. DH was asked to get calpol (or own brand substitute). Both DCs are fighting colds and we've just had double chicken pox so are out of it. Like to keep some in stock

DH went to Morrisons and got 3 boxes of own brand.

But...

...accidentally got 6+. He can't find the receipt and has already opened one bottle. Both kids are under 6.

His logic is that the dose of paracetamol per 5ml is just more than double. So we can use the bottles but give just less than half the usual dose and be mindful of 24 hr max on the original calpol.

This...sort of makes sense to me?? But I'm not sure if it's that simple?

Both bottles screenshot and the only active ingredient is paracetamol,

YANBU- logic is sound. If usually giving 5ml, move to 2ml of the over 6s

YABU- it's not that straightforward and here's why....

Not sure if DH's logic is right?
Not sure if DH's logic is right?
OP posts:
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JudgeRudy · 22/04/2023 21:20

DanceMonster · 22/04/2023 20:42

Yes, there is. If, for example, 6+ calpol is double the strength of infant calpol, then half a dose of 6+ calpol is the same strength as a full dose of infant calpol.

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You're correct @Nimbostratus100 until your last sentence. Someone else has already done the leg work so it can be calculated. They've considered a weight range and calculated safe doses for that range. The MHRA have approved them. Clearly it won't be the exact perfect dose for both the children as one is presumably bigger. Likewise if a child is at the top end of the range they don't suddenly need 2.2 times as much. However the doses stated are safe soo it IS simply arithmetic. Pharmacist do this all the time. Run out of 400mg tablets. Take 2 200mg. I've had a swig of Calpol myself and gauged 4 teaspoons (or 1 adult tablet)

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 22/04/2023 21:04

True that for some medications dose will be related to factors order than weight but the fact remains that if you know the dose for the patient then you can calculate that dose from a variety of concentrations. The OP is not proposing that she gives her under 6 a full 6 year old dose, she is calculating yes nine of mls of 6 plus she would need to give her under 6 in order to give their usual dose and this is absolutely fine, it is the same dose of medication just in less fluid.

DanceMonster · 22/04/2023 20:42

Nimbostratus100 · 22/04/2023 20:36

no idea how it works with paracetamol, but with many drugs, the amount does NOT raise in proportion to weight, at this stage, depends on state of development of liver, nothing to do with weight. Not in any way possible to calculate it with arithmetic

Show quote history

Yes, there is. If, for example, 6+ calpol is double the strength of infant calpol, then half a dose of 6+ calpol is the same strength as a full dose of infant calpol.

Nimbostratus100 · 22/04/2023 20:36

JudgeRudy · 22/04/2023 19:54

What's that got to do with anything?
If the 6+ dose is twice as 'strong' just half the dose. Simple arithmetic

Show quote history

no idea how it works with paracetamol, but with many drugs, the amount does NOT raise in proportion to weight, at this stage, depends on state of development of liver, nothing to do with weight. Not in any way possible to calculate it with arithmetic

JudgeRudy · 22/04/2023 19:54

Nimbostratus100 · 22/04/2023 19:06

completely wrong, development of liver is NOT linear

What's that got to do with anything?
If the 6+ dose is twice as 'strong' just half the dose. Simple arithmetic

Iliketosmile · 22/04/2023 19:50

Your husband is right for paracetamol/calpol. The most accurate way as previously mentioned is by weight. However, as also mentioned it is not safe to do this for all medicines as children's bodies process different drugs in a non linear manner and an adult dose cannot be just halved for a child, or as my 12yo ds who is bigger than me still can't have lemsip as his ginormous body will not process the decongestant aspect in the same way as mine does.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 22/04/2023 19:16

For medicine calculations it is "what you want" divided by "what you've got" multiplied by "what it is in"

So if you want the equivalent of the 5ml dose of the baby calpol then you want 120mg. Divide 120 by 250 (which is what you've got, the 6 plus) and then multiply by 5 (because the 6 plus is 250mg in 5ml so 5 is "what it is in").

This gives 2.4ml. So 2.4ml of 6 plus is the same as 5ml of infant.

Nimbostratus100 · 22/04/2023 19:06

completely wrong, development of liver is NOT linear

Mosaic123 · 22/04/2023 19:03

Ask a pharmacist?

theskyispurple · 22/04/2023 18:59

Totally fine ( paediatric nurse)... I've only ever bought the 6plus even when mine were babies, and I just worked out the dose myself.
The only issue is to be vigilant about checking the bottle and making sure it's the right one, and not getting yourself mixed up.

Zhougzhoug · 22/04/2023 18:41

Yeah fine. We do it the other way round because my 7yo says the baby calpol tastes nicer and he’d rather just have more of it. I have picked my battles and that is not one of them.

OhWifey · 22/04/2023 18:27

I've always done this as it's so much cheaper to just give half the dose of the 6+

cornflakesandtea · 22/04/2023 14:52

Dose being 4-6 hourly (and no more than 4 in a 24h period).
But yes, your DHs logic is sound

cornflakesandtea · 22/04/2023 14:48

Dosage for paracetamol is 15mg/kg/dose (I'm 99% sure of this but you can see on the BNF for yourself). If you know your child's weight then you can go off this instead.

Beetrootlover82 · 22/04/2023 14:44

UK sensible doing age because avoids parents who don’t know weight child administering carelessly

age is based on the average height and weight per age

ShowUs · 22/04/2023 14:39

Inkypinkee · 22/04/2023 13:18

You can calculate this using the mg per ml on the front of the box.

one has 120mg paracetamol per 5ml
The other has 250mg paracetamol per 5ml

therefore 2.5ml of the higher dose suspension would contain 125mg paracetamol and be similar (but slightly higher than) the lower dose suspension

2mg would contain 100mg

This!

RandomMess · 22/04/2023 14:04

I always bought 6+ and used calculator and syringe for accurate dose.

Merryoldgoat · 22/04/2023 13:57

He’s right. There are calculators online as well that will tell you how much to give.

Both of my children were enormous and has 6plus from 3 as the dosage a doctor prescribes is by weight.

QuickGuide · 22/04/2023 13:54

Yes, DH is right and the dose is so cautious they'd be fine anyway.

50percentNamaste50percentGoFuckYourself · 22/04/2023 13:19

OutDamnedSpot · 22/04/2023 13:15

I recently bought the equivalent of calpol in Spain and the dosage was done by weight. It makes so much more sense! There’s three years between my two, but barely any difference weight wise. On the English labels, DC2 would have got a much lower dose than he got on the Spanish ones.

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yes the UK way makes no sense to me at all. There are 4 year olds that weigh more than 8 year olds, doubling the dose on your 6th birthday seems pretty mad.

But then the doses are low to begine with and its quite hard to give too much of this stuff. My DD was given calpol at 20 minutes old!!

Inkypinkee · 22/04/2023 13:18

You can calculate this using the mg per ml on the front of the box.

one has 120mg paracetamol per 5ml
The other has 250mg paracetamol per 5ml

therefore 2.5ml of the higher dose suspension would contain 125mg paracetamol and be similar (but slightly higher than) the lower dose suspension

2mg would contain 100mg

OutDamnedSpot · 22/04/2023 13:15

50percentNamaste50percentGoFuckYourself · 22/04/2023 13:10

He's right. But don't forget that under 6 and over 6 are very arbitrary lines and in an hospital setting it would be done on weight. There are calculators available online if you want to work out an accurate dosage.

I recently bought the equivalent of calpol in Spain and the dosage was done by weight. It makes so much more sense! There’s three years between my two, but barely any difference weight wise. On the English labels, DC2 would have got a much lower dose than he got on the Spanish ones.

DanceMonster · 22/04/2023 13:12

yes he’s right.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 22/04/2023 13:11

Pretty certain I have done it the other way round, so can't see it would hurt.

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