GP prescribing drugs without doing sample first

[lozrobin]

I am pretty annoyed on what has happened to our newborn son - should I be as worried as I am and should I complain about our GP ?

When born our son had a bit of a gammy eye - midwife said quite normal and just put some breast milk in it and should clear up. Week later health visitor came and immediately booked GP appointment for 10 minutes time meaning I could not get home from work and really worried
my partner who had to dash to GP's (luckily just round corner), GP prescribed chloramphenicol drops and said to put in both eyes 4 times a day, my partner thought he said for 4 days but baby was screaming at time and GP did not put how long on the prescription. He also said to put it in both eys but when my partner said only one is bad he then said well only put it in that eye.

When I saw the drops and read leaflet I was really concerned about the side effects (grey baby syndrome - which appears lethal amongst others), we held off for another two days using breast milk but as it hadn't cleared used the drops for 3 days at which point started to look better. As it did not say how long for on prescription my partner asked a different GP she was seeing about something else - he said should stop and asked why a sample wasn't taken before drops were prescribed - nobody had mentioned this as a possibility. Knowing I would be annoyed my partner didn't mention this. Should say the baby was only two weeks when drops prescribed.

In last few days baby has been turning blue in the face and been to hospital to be checked and all apears okay and apparently can happen and be wind. The midwife on hearing this showed up and then also said why on earth was he precribed those drops as a sample should have been taken first (why she didn't do it originally is a mystery).

On a bit more research those drugs are for babies older than 2 years only and only prescribed younger by a GP when severe conjunctivitis and has been confirmed as needing strong antibiotics. My partner told me about this as she was now a bit worried it could be linked to the blueness. I am very annoyed as since spoken to paedatrician at hospital who has confirmed this - basically appears he should not have been prescribed what is a very strong antibiotic without a sample of the gunge fro his eye being analysed first.

To top all our worries a symptom of grey baby syndrome which is a side affect of the drug is turning blue. This had us worried to death but hospital thinks all is fine as just round his mouth and eyes and feeding okay and otherrwise appears perfectly healthy.

It has however got us very worried and I am fuming at the GP - been closed over bank holiday so not had chance to speak to him - has anyone else had similar experience - am I worrying over nothing and would you take it further ?

Many thanks,

Lawrence

Thanks for everyone who has taken time to reply, re last post the leaflet that came with our drops does list grey baby syndrome as a side eefect - i have the leaflet here in fron of me, I have done a lot of research into this and seems is listed as a side effect from days when drug was injected (not used for injection anymore) but manufacturers still duty bound to list it, the amount absorbed through drops appears to be tiny - I am a lot less concerened now.

I purposoely put append on forum 'am i being unreasonable' as thought deep down might be over reacting and this I guess is what forum is for. I am a first time parent of a 4 week old baby and I'll be honest am a born worrier myself and many of the appends have reassurred me that nothing that has been done was dodgy and was the GP doing his best but could not help myself worrying.

Thanks again for all the replies and think on balance now a few days have passed after it all will just let it all go and move on and enjoy our lovely baby.

Lawrence & Robin

Glad you are reassured and completely understand the anxiety of new parents - we have all been there!

glad you are feeling better.
Can completely understand your reaction so will just add this in case you wanted any extra reassurance.
I am a GP who has also done some hospital paediatrics. Would sometimes do swab for conjunctivitis in newborns but not always - would certainly start treatment if I thought it needed it before result came back. Wouldn't bat an eyelid (no pun intended!) at using chloramphenicol. However bathing is probably best firstline treatment for most conjunctivitis - including newborns where the problem is often an underdeveloped tear duct.
Would be fine using fucidin in small kids too.

Lawrence glad you got some replies and now you feel better. It is hard in the first few weeks. I'm not sure if its your first? If so It is hard because everything is so new and I had no idea as most other new mums don't. After the birth and during the first few weeks can be very draining and emotionally difficult so maybe thats why your partner was treading carefully - maybe he just didnt want to upset you even more. new babies are so tiny and delicate, I remember there were lots of occasions I rang my dad or brother in law for advice. I am now on my second one and I think I will feel more relaxed but still its a big challenge.

Sorry I just read that you are a new mum....!