Born in the 70’s, did you have paracetamol etc?

[PersephoneParlormaid]

As a child I don’t remember being given any medicine if I was ill, only if I went to the doctors and was given antibiotics. If I was unwell I was wrapped in a blanket and put in bed with a hot water bottle. Were you given any painkillers like we give today?

Born in 1958.

I used to get bad headaches, and my mum used to give me Disprin (a brand of soluble Aspirin).

This was before it was known to be dangerous to give Aspirin to children.

Yes, I used to love the pink calpol! It tasted really good in those days when it had sugar in 😋

As far as I know, there weren't any/many unbranded versions in those days, so maybe cost was a factor in why you weren't given it?

We had what they called "junior aspirin". This would have been around early 1970s.

Yes, definitely. Asprin and paracetamol mostly. I had very bad period pains, both were utterly useless. Ibuprofen came out (over the counter) in the 1980s and was a revelation.

Grew up in 60s and 70s, Aspirin dissolved in water for any pain.

@RampantIvy I’d completely forgotten about Disprin. That’s what I was given if I was ever ill which I wasn’t very often. (Born 1977)

Disprin for us too, no paracetamol or ibuprofen. We also had things like kaolin and morphine for diarrhoea (was more unpleasant than the illness itself), calamine lotion for rashes.

I dont remember being given anything unless peescribed by the doctor either. Lemon flavour lucozade, a hot water bottle and sleeping on the settee was the way to get well in my house as a child in the early 80's (born in 1977)

Strangely I have no memory of being given calpol as a child but was very definitely given soluble paracetamol, it was disgusting. Also a certain cough medicine that we favoured.

Can remember being given Milk of Magnesia, Germolene for scratches and scrapes, Vicks for colds, Lucozade drink for energy but can't remember any pain killers.

Anything more serious would mean a doctor's visit and prescribed medicine.

I remember being given Calpol very occasionally. And occasional banana antibiotics from the GP. But there was much more emphasis on going to bed (and staying there!), honey and lemon and getting some rest.

I wasn’t allowed to watch TV if ill, it was bed or going to school.

Junior Disprol dissolved in water for me, but very rarely.

Born 1969 - we had junior aspirin, which I absolutely loved. Obviously a poor safety profile, no longer exists.

My mum was at home full time until I was 8 so if I had a fever or whatever she could keep a close eye. She was a strong believer in children not being machines, so we would be in night clothes and a duvet on the sofa with the TV on if we were really ill, and would use aspirin to reduce viral symptoms. But she was exceptionally good both at spotting if we were swinging the lead, and in making us tell the truth, so we didn’t miss many days. I do remember feeling pretty ill sometimes and would have liked more medicines for that.

Im a huge fan of paracetamol used well, having not thought it did much for several years. Also the first thing any doctor will ask now is whether the symptoms in a child have been controlled by paracetamol, so it’s a diagnostic tool. I’m so grateful to have it.

Oh yes and Vick for colds and some kind of energy drink.

I definitely don’t remember having anything dissolved.

Disprin here as well, and Vicks Vaporub when I had a bad cold. TCP for sore throats. Germolene for cuts and grazes. Born late 70s.

We weren't given cough mixtures as Mim was convinced they didn't work and was probably right. Nor Vicks for some reason, my friends had it and those stick inhaler things to hold up to your nostrils were objects of envy at school.

TCP for cuts here, no gernolene or savlon again they were things friends mums had if you got a scrape at theirs.

Born late 60s

I do remember Vicks being put on my front and back, and my nightie sticking to it.

Born 1960. Almost never given any kind of painkillers. I remember once having toothache (aged about 12) and being so desperate that I took some of my mum's migraine painkillers!

Sometimes given soluble asprin if REALLY ill, but usually just got on with it. Vicks on the chest for a cold was about as medical as my family ever got.

Disprin dissolved on a teaspoon and followed by a drink of water as it tasted disgusting

I don't remember paracetamol, but we would be given aspirin or disprin for headache or ear ache and there was always cough mixture.

It was always used as a threat though. "If it's that bad you'll have to take an asprin".

I was born in 1970 and remember having Junior Disprin when I was ill, as it was kept at my height in the bathroom cabinet I remember helping myself to a couple when I fancied it as they tasted nice.
I remember some awful bright red cough syrup. When my brother had glandular fever my mum made him eat a big spoonful of cod liver oil with malt extract which he said was hideous.
My dad was definitely a product of his time and suggested a glass of whisky and warm water for any ailment. I grew up hating the stuff and haven’t touched it since.

Crushed aspirin with jam