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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
PIMSoclock · 07/09/2011 22:56

just incase you missed it

The reason that the age was changed is that there is some evidence to show that the antihistamine in medised MAY cause respiratory depression in babies
(and we do know there is a link between respiratory depression and SIDS)

The evidence is not huge, but there is some there. This meant that raising the age limit is the safest option.

In terms of gps giving the go ahead to use it. Medised is not licensed and can not be prescribed on the nhs as it's efficacy is unclear for any age
A gp could recommend use of this treatment based on a reasonable risk assessment - knowledge of potential dangers, chance of side effects, benefit of treatment etc

Hope this helps

Giddly · 07/09/2011 22:58

I know a small number of people's abuse OTC medication, and it doesn't guarantee rest (although in my DD' case I think it was just the fact she was less conjested that helped) - it's comments like "Enjoy your night's sleep" that assume it's all about parent convenience, when the OP said nothing of the sort.
An no - nothing is completely safe, but then we all take calculated risks every minute of every day.

Original poster
banana87 · 07/09/2011 22:58

And just so we are all clear, medised is paracetemol and an ANTIHISTAMINE with "sedative side effects". It's NOT a sedative in itself.

OP posts:
Honeydragon · 07/09/2011 23:03

PIMSoclock

Sorry, I realise that sounded flippant, I did mean sedatives, but in their place. They have a use. Even for children. But they are a controlled drug, because they can be abused.

Medised isn't a sedative and should never be used as one.

If a child is itchy and sore and has a temperature treat the child with the correct drugs to provide relief don't knock them out with Medised till nature takes its course.

sorry, read my post back and realised I should have elaborated Blush

PIMSoclock · 07/09/2011 23:11

Thanks for that! There certainly is lot of shouting

In terms of the treatment for itching.
Not all antihistamines will actually do this. Cyclizine, a drug used for anti sickness is an anti histamine, ranitadine used for excess stomach acid is an antihistamine
They have limited other 'classic' features.
The antihistamine in mediseds main feature of use is sedation. If you are looking for treatment of an itch or hayfever, you are looking for the wrong medication and this will have limited effect.

I Understand that you may have strong feelings either way regarding this subject.
I know we all balance risk, but you will make that risk hugely emotive and more significant when one of the risks is linked to SIDS.
you can certainly understand why some would say that as an individual, it is not a decision I would like to be responsible for should god forbid something went wrong.
Or even is any treatment for minor illness worth that risk?
I would certainly understand why the decision to break license should practically and legally be left to the professionals

PIMSoclock · 07/09/2011 23:12

Sorry that read that I was disagreeing with you honey, I think we were saying the same thing re the effects of medisedSmile

Honeydragon · 07/09/2011 23:18

I know I got you Smile

I remember when I was Pg I couldn't understand why my hayfever really improved. Till years later, when it occurred to me I'd been taking Cyclizine amongst other drugs to combat hyperemisis

I thought it was some weird pregnancy thing Blush

fourkids · 07/09/2011 23:19

I think we all get our points of view across much more effectively when we start listening, understanding and being polite...and we hear each others' points of view much more effectively...

...as I keep telling teenage DCs!

Doesn't mean everyone has to agree, but no-one needs to slink upstairs for a cry just that way.

seeker · 07/09/2011 23:24

Trouble is,four kids, this isn't a "point of view" thing. if somebody said "I don't put my baby in a car seat because the straps make his shoulders sore" you wouldn't say "Well, I don't agree, but we all parent diffently"

Bubbaluv · 07/09/2011 23:24

This all sounds a lot like the alcahol-during-pregancy-debate.
Some people will look at the official recommendations and decide that anyone who has a glass of wine during pregancy is willfully risking thier baby's health.
Others will take the advice with a grain of salt and a glass of merlot.

PIMSoclock · 07/09/2011 23:29

Good point seeker
Bubaluv, do you think that if the evidence suggested a link to still births people would still take that decision 'with a pinch of salt?'

Bubbaluv · 07/09/2011 23:30

Seeker - the risks of not using a carseat and using Medised on a child under 6 are miles apart.

We are all comfortable with different levels of risk, and many people (including medically trained people) are totally comfortable with the very small risk involved in using Medised.

I would also say that if you already know that your child is fine with Medised as you used it before the age restriction was changed then it would seem pretty obvious that they are still fine with it now the age has changed? Now I'm sure there are children out there who do react badly to it and the drug comapnies want to protect themselves from law suits, but the drug itself hasn't changed.

trixymalixy · 07/09/2011 23:31

Interesting thread. I have a bottle of Medised from when it was licensed for children younger than 6. I also thought the change was due to parents overdosing and had intended to use it if I felt the DC needed it ( which I haven't in well over 2 years). After reading this and now knowing there was more to the age limit changing than parents just dosing incorrectly I am going to bin it.

PIMSoclock · 07/09/2011 23:33

Bubbaluv
That's a lot of assumptions
The risk of respiratory depression can not be excluded because a child has had it before. that's not hoe it works
I understand your ration, but surely when it comes to decisions like this your ration needs to be informed by fact NOT assumptions?

Bubbaluv · 07/09/2011 23:34

PIMSoclock - yes, I think if the risks were higher people would behave differently. Most people are able to make sensible risk assesments. I do recognize, however, that some people cannot, and so the recomendations have to accomodate that.

PIMSoclock · 07/09/2011 23:38

Trixy- safe choice
Bubba - In the light of the info ive given you Perhaps you would agree that the information on this drug is not being used or perhaps widely available enough to make reasonable decisions?
The lack of information given or know by mums could be due to the fact that this is a unlicensed medication not available through the NHS

seeker · 07/09/2011 23:39

Are you sure about that, bubbaluv? I date from well before car seats, and I have never heard of a baby not in a car seat being hurt . I'm sure t'd be fine not to use one........

PIMSoclock · 07/09/2011 23:41

Seeker - are you really that old? Where do you put the baby on a horse and cart? Grin
.... Sorry couldn't resist Wink

fourkids · 07/09/2011 23:42

Seeker, No. Point taken. Those parents who don't make their DCs belt up get my secret-stare-of-disapproval. But I don't think the two are exactly the same.

And I think we do have to take opinions into account. Let me give some examples. I have lived in various places as well as the UK. In France it was perfectly acceptable to add rusks to a baby's bottle and make the hole bigger so they can slurp the thickened milk through it, for example for breakfast for a weaning baby. Is the polulation of France 65m? (I should check!) Are they and the French HC professionals all wrong, yet the Brits are all right? I thought not, so have done the same in Britain - I don't think it became more dangerous/less sensible once I crossed the Channel.
In the USA sterilising bottles/dishes for my older babies was deemed unneccessary if they had been washed in a hot wash in the dishwasher, yet in the UK the HV advised they should still be sterilised. Should I assume I have been badly advised abroad, or simply use my common sense (and in this instance decide that if DC is shoving all and sundry in her mouth, the dishwasher is probably fine?)?

The Bonjela addition to the thread was relevant for me. DCs have all used Bonjela for teething and mouth ulcers all their lives...and all of a sudden DC4 can't use it for mouth ulcers because she is too young. Do I use my past experience or give her something less effective for a truly debilitating, ongoing condition?

On this occasion, I chose something less effective in order to err on the safe side...before everyone starts shouting at me too!!

fourkids · 07/09/2011 23:44

population, not polulation...

fourkids · 07/09/2011 23:47

I date from before car seats too...and compulsary seat belts. And I AM NOT OLD I TELL YOU. I AM NOT OLD.

Bubbaluv · 07/09/2011 23:49

PIMS, I'm afraid I have no idea how the NHS works - I'm in Aus.
Surely there are antihistamines approved by the NHS though?

I agree, I would never use medised (or our local equivelent) for a minor sniffle. My boys (and they are both over 2, so not babies) would have to be ill enough to require a trip to a GP before I would consider using it. I also use about half the dose prescribed for their age (based on the old packaging).

Even when it comes to SIDS, lots of parents make different risk assessments. Many (most IME) move babies into their own rooms earlier than suggested, most don't breast feed as long as suggested, many don't give dummies, many use cot bumpers etc etc.

PIMSoclock · 07/09/2011 23:57

There are antihistamines available on tge nhs on their own, and only formulations who's main feature is histamine blockade. Sedation is only a secondary side effect.
Medised is not a good 'typical' antihistamine.
The combination of drugs in it is nor thought to be particularly effective which is why it is not prescribed in the nhs.

I understand what your saying about decisions about SIDS risk etc, but I always wonder if parents would still do the same if parents knew the real and factual risk from their actions

I find it hard to think that anyone could consciously make a decision about SIDS risk against fairly low chance of benefit from a drug

Bubbaluv · 07/09/2011 23:57

Seeker, people are killed and injured every day in car accidents, just beacuse they aren't your friends doesn't make car travel safer.
I can think of a handful of my fiends who would not be here today if not for their seatbelts.

With medised there "may" be a risk.

Bubbaluv · 08/09/2011 00:01

If it's not even effectove then that's totally different PIMS. I will have to have a look at our local equivenent and see if it is the same drugs.
Our local version here can be prescribed, though, so maybe it's different?