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Original poster

So we're no longer meant to alternate Paracetamol and Ibuprofen for kids?

84 replies

Crunchymum · 15/12/2022 21:15

Is this new advice?

Have a very hot (40c) child and Calpol didn't really help so given Nurofen. Just read the guidelines and NHS guidelines say use one or the other.

It's been 6 hours since I gave Calpol.

OP posts:
gwenneh · 15/12/2022 21:31

Thefailinghousewife · 15/12/2022 21:18

Ds was at the doctors last week and told me to alternate?

Same - DS had flu, just one wasn't cutting it!

Strathyre · 15/12/2022 21:32

So I do alternate, and I have been told by doctors to alternate in the past. But I think if a little one has a temperature persistently high enough to need alternating, then I'd take them to the GP the next morning.

Ansumpasty · 15/12/2022 21:35

I alternate every 4 hours as that is what all doctors have told me to do and it works well.

40 is very high- I’d be taking them to see a dr in the morning if you haven’t already, incase it’s bacterial and needs treatment. Hope you manage to get some sleep tonight!

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Waitingfordecember · 15/12/2022 21:36

I didn’t know that either. My LO has had a couple of trips to the doctors lately and I’ve been told to alternate between the two (so not breaking guidelines I guess, but their was no mention of it being something to be careful of). I wish it said why.

frampan6 · 15/12/2022 21:38

It's fine to alternate them. I think NHS website says don't take them together so at the same time. Space the fuses out.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 15/12/2022 21:39

DC only developed temperature this afternoon (but Calpol only reduced from 39c to 38c and it then went up to 40c) so I wasn't going to rush the GP. Not that we'd be able to get an appointment.

DC is currently playing with the kitten, asking for crisps and watering the Christmas tree so hopefully the medIcine is doing its job.

As an aside is anyone else on the app having iissues? Jumping screen / random words being moved (I keep ending up in the middle of my sentence!!) / random spaces between paragraphs?

It's almost unusable.

OP posts:
Mum2jenny · 15/12/2022 21:44

I’d give paracetamol then 3 hours later I’d give ibuprofen, then 3 hours later another dose of paracetamol, then 3 hours later another dose of ibuprofen.
So over a 24 hour period, the child will have had 4 doses of paracetamol and 4 doses of ibuprofen.

Mum2jenny · 15/12/2022 21:46

My children are still alive and so are my grandchildren, so it’s up to you.
Not my call, but please be sensible!!

InSummertime · 15/12/2022 21:47

I give calpol first as mine respond better to that for a fever. If after 1 hour or 2 their temperature is back up or not really gone down I give ibuprofen and then alternate

Wam90 · 15/12/2022 21:50

I think the nhs website has always said not to. You’re supposed to speak to a healthcare professional first but if I booked an appointment every time my son has a temp/ cold then there wouldn’t be many appointments left for anyone else!

santasbushybeard · 15/12/2022 21:51

Ansumpasty · 15/12/2022 21:35

I alternate every 4 hours as that is what all doctors have told me to do and it works well.

40 is very high- I’d be taking them to see a dr in the morning if you haven’t already, incase it’s bacterial and needs treatment. Hope you manage to get some sleep tonight!

Yes, been doing that today with my 2 year old.

Drs and pharmacists have been advising me to do that for years with all my children.

Was told to do that with my 8 year old by the GP on Monday.

FionnulaTheCooler · 15/12/2022 21:53

I was told to alternate them to bring down fever in my DC when we went to the out of hours doctor at the weekend. I told her I'd given paracetamol a couple of hours before but she was still unhappy with DC's temperature and gave a dose of ibuprofen there and then and sent us home with the rest of the bottle (alongside antibiotics) and instructions to alternate doses.

Jellycats4life · 15/12/2022 21:57

It wouldn’t surprise me if the official guidance has changed, not because it’s not safe to alternate the two, but because too many parents got it wrong and overdosed their kid.

Personally? If the need arose I would sooner try both paracetamol and ibuprofen at home before I wasted my time with 111 or suffered a trip to A&E. As long as you are meticulous with your note keeping and don’t exceed the max dose for either med within 24 hours, I think it’s OK.

mybluecar · 15/12/2022 22:01

As per NHS advice, I didn’t alternate when DS had his first babyhood illness and temperature. Our very experienced GP told me to and I have done it ever since.

thaegumathteth · 15/12/2022 22:03

I'm pretty sure the reasoning is so that you get advice for a potentially very unwell kid and that you don't get confused and overdose them

TortillaChipAddict · 15/12/2022 22:03

We’ve had a rough time the past year with DD2 having constant very high temps and febrile seizures. After advice at A and E I now alternate between the two each episode but keep a log on my phone to make sure we don’t go over the doses for either. If I thought I needed to alternate for DD1 I would contact a dr first as she is the opposite - gets too cold. In fact the only time I have had to think about giving her both I did ring out of hours dr. Different system here though as am in NI, we don’t have 111.

dementedpixie · 15/12/2022 22:03

Mum2jenny · 15/12/2022 21:44

I’d give paracetamol then 3 hours later I’d give ibuprofen, then 3 hours later another dose of paracetamol, then 3 hours later another dose of ibuprofen.
So over a 24 hour period, the child will have had 4 doses of paracetamol and 4 doses of ibuprofen.

Is ibuprofen not only 3 doses in 24 hours rather than 4?

bloodywhitecat · 15/12/2022 22:04

Mum2jenny · 15/12/2022 21:44

I’d give paracetamol then 3 hours later I’d give ibuprofen, then 3 hours later another dose of paracetamol, then 3 hours later another dose of ibuprofen.
So over a 24 hour period, the child will have had 4 doses of paracetamol and 4 doses of ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen is 3 doses in 24 hours not 4 isn't it?

showysnowy · 15/12/2022 22:10

I've been advised by the doctor to alternate a few months ago. Ibuprofen x 3 times a day and calpol 4 x a day but with the ibuprofen, as long as ds wasn't vomiting.

SuburbanMummy123 · 15/12/2022 22:13

My husband is a GP. We do the alternating medicine thing with our toddler

MumUndone · 15/12/2022 22:20

It says do not combine, that's at the same time.

Alarchbach · 15/12/2022 22:31

My daughter had a temp of 40.4 last week. NHS website do not alternate, doctor told me to alternate. I’ve always alternated when needed and will continue to do so x

Tubbytele · 15/12/2022 22:32

Doctor who called back from 111 told me to alternate for my 2 year old yesterday.

ZandathePanda · 15/12/2022 22:33

I have always followed:

  1. every 8hours for ibuprofen
  2. every 6hours for paracetamol or lemsip (as lemsip has paracetamol in)

When 4 of us have been ill together a spreadsheet is useful - though by that stage it’s usually the back of an envelope.

Dancingdragonhiddentiger · 15/12/2022 22:34

My father in law GP said it was fine to do this and it’s what I did with my kids. Guidance is always changing but I’d like them to link to the research that prompted the change so I can read and consider it for myself.

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