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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to give medised/calpol night even though the age has changed?

186 replies

banana87 · 06/09/2011 09:55

DD is 2.11. I have given her Medised as needed from 1 year, as well as Calpol night as needed from 2 yrs. AS NEEDED means if she's ill, we've not given it to her just to get her to sleep. I was a nanny when Medised was ok from 3 months which is why I have given it after they changed the age.

I've told the GP this and they agree that it's fine if she needs it, but I've been made to feel like a really irresponsible parent by friends who say I shouldn't give it to her as she's under 6.

AIBU?

OP posts:

Pinot · 06/09/2011 09:58

Depens on the reason the age limit was changed. Do you know?

Original poster

banana87 · 06/09/2011 09:59

Due to parents overdosing I believe, but I have read different stories.

OP posts:

DoMeDon · 06/09/2011 09:59

YANBU - I give medised - the only way to get any slepp when DD has a bad cold.

I spoke to pharmasist (sp) who said they have changed age on all cough syrups, decongestant type stuff as there is no proof they are effective and it is 'immoral' to give non-proven things to small DC.

seeker · 06/09/2011 10:00

Why is she ill so often?

Original poster

banana87 · 06/09/2011 10:02

seeker When did I say she was often ill? Did you read my post?

We only give it to her maybe 3-4 times a year, when she's ill (i.e. a cold, last week hand foot and mouth, etc).

OP posts:

Pinot · 06/09/2011 10:03

"depends"

Typo wank.

I'd trust the GP in that case :)

DoMeDon · 06/09/2011 10:03

eh?

Original poster

banana87 · 06/09/2011 10:04

domedon That's funny because when DD had a bad cough last year the GP sent DH to get Tixylix night time cough...

OP posts:

seeker · 06/09/2011 10:08

Well, I think a child this young would have to be pretty ill to need strong stuff like Medised, and being that badly ill 4 times a year would worry me. Presumably you don't just give it when she has a bit of a cold, do you?

4ForksSake · 06/09/2011 10:11

I'm sure there was a report a few years ago where they'd decided calpol night shouldn't be given to under 6's as it can cause problems with their kidneys or something. I never read it (will see if I can find link) but MIL (who used to be a nurse) told me about it as she knew I occasionally gave it to DS2. Maybe that's why the age limit changed on them both?

4ForksSake · 06/09/2011 10:16

www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100003059.html

Just found this (no mention of kidney problems but I'm sure that's what MIL said - maybe I was only half listening )

DoMeDon · 06/09/2011 10:22

I don't think medised is any stronger than normal calpol, it just has an added ingerdient which is a decongestant with a sedatrive side effect.

Original poster

banana87 · 06/09/2011 10:27

Thanks for the link, will have a look!

Medised isn't "strong stuff", it's calpol with an antihistamine. And yes, I do give it when she's bunged up.

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 06/09/2011 10:29

calpol shouldn't be given to under 6s??? When was that decided? I knew about medised and cough mixture but not calpol. What exactly are you meant to give them as pain relief then?

iMemoo · 06/09/2011 10:31

My sister (nurse) said one of the problems with such medicines is that it's a bad idea to knock out children who are poorly. Kids deteriate rapidly and putting them into an artificial sleep may mask any worsening of symptoms.

iMemoo · 06/09/2011 10:31

Normal Calpol is still fine Stealth.

harassedandherbug · 06/09/2011 10:33

stealth it's the Calpol Night, not the regular Calpol. Thank goodness!

I've still been giving dd (5 now) the odd dose of Medised before bed when she's been bad. She had proper flu over Christmas (then me and dh!), and it was very handy when she was over the temp/shakes but totally bunged up.

I don't bother with cough mixture. I was told a cough will last 7 days with cough mixture and 7 days without..... we use a spoonful honey and warm orange squash.

TeddyRuxpin · 06/09/2011 10:34

Medised and calpol night are the same thing so dont give them together.
The reason the age changed is that there were a few cases of parents overdosing their children on cough mixtures etc which is why pharmacies aren't allowed to sell them for children under 6 now.
If the GP has said it's ok then it's fine but the pharmacy still won't sell you it if the child is under 6 due to the new regulations. The GP would have to write a prescription for it but most cough medicines are blacklisted on the NHS so the only way you would be able to obtain calpol night or Medised is to lie about the child's age when you are buying it.

meditrina · 06/09/2011 10:34

The age limit was changed because continuing research and review of evidence showed that one ingredient carried a small but definite risk of serious complications (the worst being heart arrhythmia, also I think depression of respiratory function which is potentially serious in a child already congested). Trials also showed that the additional benefit of including the antihistamine was small to non-existent in comparison with straight paediatric paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Doctor's can (and do) still recommend it for younger children - doctors have, after all, been specifically trained in the risk/benefit of using drugs.

It's not crazily dangerous to use - loads of us did before the licence changed. Then again, loads of people used aspirin for children before the link with Reyes was established - most were absolutely fine then too.

Only you can decide what to do about avoidable risks.

ShowOfHands · 06/09/2011 10:35

There are several reasons why you shouldn't give medised and calpol night meds to young babies/children and it's nowt to do with overdosing and only partially to do with effectiveness.

I wouldn't give it. It's not a risk I'm happy with but I have different medication thresholds anyway I suspect.

But I also wouldn't watch Eastenders or go to a Michael BubblyHead concert. Takes all sorts.

TeddyRuxpin · 06/09/2011 10:36

Also, Medised and calpol night have an antihistamine in them which acts as a sedative so if the child is having trouble breathing due to a bad cold then sedating them could make breathing more difficult which is another reason the age guideline has changed.

Vallhala · 06/09/2011 10:40

Being the mother of older children who were given Medised occasionally when under 6, and weighing up the odds I would have no hesitation in giving it to a 2.11 year old under the circumstances you've described, banana.

I'd also be inclined to ask those who question my decision on this whether they are better qualified to judge than my GP.

Or tell them to bugger off and not to question MY decisions about MY child!

DoMeDon · 06/09/2011 10:40

Show - What are the reasons?

Teddy- How does sedating make breathing more difficult? I think I can guess the answer but genuinely would like the right one.

WhiteTrash · 06/09/2011 10:46

Op use it. Its not that often. Seeker thats not often at all. Using it on a child 3-4 times a year is not a concern. My first baby was a very sickly kid, got everything going from 0-2 years. Chest, throat, ear infections. Id say once every 1-2 months. It was pretty bad. It'd have to be very bad for me to use medised but I did. A and probably about 5-6 times a year.

As soon as he hit 2 his immune system seemed to strengthen and hes hardly ever ill now.

The amount the OP's child is ill is not concerning IMO.

seeker · 06/09/2011 10:48

Isn't it better to avoid medicating children if at all possible?

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