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Original poster

DS just drank calpol

53 replies

Yeahthatthing · 15/10/2019 13:37

Before anyone starts, I've called 111 and I'm awaiting the call back. If anyone has read my other threads I'm having a shit time currently so be gentle.

Had to pick DS 3yrs 10months) up from nursery due to fever. Got home, made him a bed up on the sofa, took temp, grabbed calpol. There was no syringe in the box so walked in to the kitchen to get one of the spares, came back in the living room to find DS with the calpol open. Smelled his mouth and he's clearly had some. He's going from saying he didn't, to he had a little bit, back and forth. So I've no idea. The bottle was used and now has around a third in, I've no idea how much it had in originally but certainly wasn't full. I'd hazard less than half full.

Arrrrggghhh just what I don't need!

OP posts:
OhioOhioOhio · 15/10/2019 14:14

Yes. Omg Basil.

I'm sure he'll be fine but get him to the hospital.

earlynightneeded · 15/10/2019 14:14

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Original poster
Yeahthatthing · 15/10/2019 14:19

Just spoken to the 111 pedeatrician and don't need to go to a&e. The max dose for is 75micrograms per kilo and based on the max he could have drank he's at 47micrograms per kilo so no a&e, just keep an eye on him. Thank God!

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 15/10/2019 14:21

Fantastic news Grin

glasgowlass · 15/10/2019 14:25

It can happen to any of us, you take your eyes off them for a split second...

Glad you dont need to go to hospital & you must look after yourself too as well as the wee one. You'll have had quite a shock.

My youngest did similar, with lactulose though. Was like a poo explosion soon after but doctor I spoke to wasn't worried at all.

Just to reiterate to Basil. Do fuck off, theres a love

OkayGo · 15/10/2019 14:25

That's great op.

Basil, sod off

Celebelly · 15/10/2019 14:33

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Clawdy · 15/10/2019 14:34

This reminds me of when my three year old grandson was put to bed after a dose of calpol, and finally seemed to be asleep.Relieved , DS and his partner settled down for a Friday night glass of wine. Ten minutes later, little grandson appeared at the door, beaming, and announced proudly " I'll be really well now, cos I've drunk all the Calpol!" Cue mad dash to A and E. He was absolutely fine, but these things do happen!

mistermagpie · 15/10/2019 14:43

Glad it was all ok! Don't feel bad OP, on Saturday my 2.5 year old DS ate a tube of toothpaste (I'm an irresponsible parent as well Basil) and has to go to A&E because of potential for fluoride poisoning. NHS24 and the A&E doctors took it much more seriously than I thought they would so you were right to get it checked. Accidents happen and none of us are perfect. Apart from Basil...

Noroof · 15/10/2019 14:48

Happened to us...DH left the lid loose in a sleep deprived state. Went straight to hospital with the bottle and they calculated by what was left in the bottle that the amount ingested wouldn't do any harm.
I near murdered DH though.

kelper · 15/10/2019 14:55

Glad all is ok op, if its any consolation I'm in my 40s and when I was about 4 drank a whole bottle of calpol, I loved the taste.
My dad has never moved so fast as he did that day when I came downstairs and announced what Id done!
Rushed to hospital, given something to make me sick, been fine ever since (And I still love calpol!)

CanICelebrate · 15/10/2019 14:58

Glad all is ok Flowers

Kaykay06 · 15/10/2019 15:18

Sure it’s measure in milligrams and if it’s one of the bottles with the syringe hole in hardly any comes out when you tip it up, he may just have licked it. We take those bits off as it doesn’t fit the syringes in. My toddler son ate a pink ibuprofen tablet once but phoned dr and all was good it just gives you a fright and makes you a little more vigilant with meds.

Candymay · 15/10/2019 15:21

Great news. Don’t feel bad. We all have accidents with kids. I’ve had so many panics and I’m pretty careful. Have a good evening.

FavouriteSong · 15/10/2019 15:25

I'm glad 111 were able to reassure you - they have to calculate the amount taken vs the child's weight and work out whether it's potentially a toxic dose. It usually isn't. The most common mistake I've heard about with Calpol, is people giving the 6+ stuff to infants because the bottles look the same.

Original poster
Yeahthatthing · 15/10/2019 15:30

FavouriteSong I'm actually really glad it was the bottle of normal strength as we do use the 6+ from time to time, just give half doses (e.g. the correct dose for age). It's a good job I hadn't brought that one down.

OP posts:
HJWT · 15/10/2019 15:31

Op, you need to take him to A&E now.

Some people are so dramatic🤯

FavouriteSong · 15/10/2019 15:41

@HJWT

A potential paracetamol overdose is definitely a case for A&E, there's nothing dramatic about posters suggesting that. Fortunately the OP's child hadn't taken a toxic dose but if they had, then A&E would be the only way forward. An antidote needs to be administered within a certain time frame.

nobigotsallowed · 15/10/2019 15:41

@HJWT, erm dramatic? The op said that she wasn't sure how much paracetamol her ds had consumed. An overdose of paracetamol can be very dangerous, so how is that dramatic?

Op, really glad to hear all is good Smile

Original poster
Yeahthatthing · 15/10/2019 15:47

Yes, when I wrote the OP I didn't know how much he'd had, but after calming down, thinking about the last time we used it, how big the bottle was etc I could work out the maximum he could have drunk.

I'm aware paracetamol overdose is serious and needs timely treatment as when I was at uni a family friend died of a paracetamol overdose taken whilst drunk after a fight with her boyfriend.

OP posts:
x2boys · 15/10/2019 16:30

Ah my son did this when he was about three he, he's severely autistic and non verbal so couldn't tell me how much he had we lived about two minutes from the hospital so rushed him up to A and E they took his bloods and took him into day unit for observation untill.his results came back,when th nipped home to.pick some clothes up he found a big puddle of Calpol on taciturn floor which in our panic w we haden t noticed Hmm so he had ,had very little if any .

x2boys · 15/10/2019 16:31

Kitchen floor*

BlueThursday · 15/10/2019 17:11

A family member of mine (a baby) was overdosed with paracetamol in hospital so it can happen anywhere and to anyone for those of you who say the OP is irresponsible

slipperywhensparticus · 15/10/2019 18:48

It happens my ten year old (hen he was three) drank disinfectant at great nannys house she left the cap loose because she couldnt open it we were sent to A&E for hours the dr was not impressed we were not even triaged properly apparently we should have been given some stuff to drink

I have grey hair thanks to my middle child

wtftodo · 15/10/2019 19:01

My youngest did this last winter, aged 2.5. She opened a closed child proofed (!) bottle that of course should have been properly out of reach and not just on a high shelf. I knew it was about half full and I also knew her weight so while she had drained the bottle (wasn’t a syringe one) 111 was able to calculate how much she’d consumed and reassure us we could monitor at home. I had a night of keeping an eye on her, and a kind but firm follow up talking to.
It does happen and it can be dreadfully serious but the recommended dose is way below toxicity level, thankfully.