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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not drug my son to sleep?

56 replies

WhiteTrash · 07/12/2011 17:12

My 6 month old recently had a severe reaction to a food. After the anaphylaxis he had a month of chronic hives which we now have under control with a dose of oral steroids and topical steroids twice a week. We were also prescribed 'potent' antihistmamine Hydroxyzine because piriton didnt make a jot of difference.

Now hes teething and ill. Apart from 2 nights, for the last 2 months hes woken 8-12 times a night on average because if one reason or another, itchinf because of the hives, a cold, teething or all of the above.

Now he has a bad chesty cold hes feeling awful, teary slight temp and teething to boot.

He went down at 6.30pm last night utterly exhausted, he woke every 10-15 minutes until 12am where he cried until 3am and woke/stirred every 15 mins until 6am. During this time Im rocking him, trying anything to keep him asleep. The 15 minute intervals have been the same for 3 nights and I expect no change tonight.

Friends suggest the antihistamine (calpol and neurofen havent helped but we're using them) because he needs the sleep (fuck me, so do I!) but I cant bring myself to do it unessarily. But I feel guilty, he feels awful and worse for no sleep. But every time I consider it I get a gut 'no' feeling even though I used it before for the hives (and I hated it then too!)

Hes yawning and crying on me now and Im feeling guilt for either decision!

OP posts:
steben · 07/12/2011 17:17

If calpol and ibuprofen are not bringing his temp down I would be concerned and would not risk using the antihistamine. However if his temp is under control and you can use it then I would - he would dramatically improve after a good nights sleep.

Gracie123 · 07/12/2011 17:23

Do you have any 'medical' friends?
I know a Pediatric nurse who usually advises me in these sorts of situations (loads of meds are fine for younger children in smaller doses, but some are not). Frequency of use also has an effect (eg paracetamol can accumulate in the body over 6months to a year) so I'd think it was pretty important to check with someone who knows. Just because he's used it before, doesn't mean they'd prescribe it again iyswim.

Sorry you are both feeling so rotten Sad

WorraLiberty · 07/12/2011 17:23

YANBU to not do it, you'd have to cope if you didn't have the potent antihistmamine wouldn't you?

How recently was his reaction to the food?

MrsMuddyPuddles · 07/12/2011 17:26

I think what your friend suggested (ie giving your 6 month old "potent" prescription medicine for a reason other than why it was presscribed) is bad advice, but you should see what the dr/hv suggests.
I hope he feels better soon.

BackToB4Beatrice · 07/12/2011 17:31

Not quite the same, but DD is prescribed piriton for eczema and wheezing and allergies. I'm sure I will get ruined for this but?I would give it to him. Imagine it was you and you just wanted to sleep? You will both be better for it in the morning. You may also find, as I do with DD, that if you get a couple of good nights of reasonable chunks of sleep, you may find they continue without the antihistamine, as I'm sure it also, through no fault of LO, begins to become habit waking even though they do feel rotten, for whatever reason.

Just my opinion, hope things get better.

Original poster
WhiteTrash · 07/12/2011 17:49

Thanks for the input. I was just discussing it with DP over dinner and we're both being as pathetically indecisive as one another. To answer the questions;

Steben- he only had a slight temp in the first place so thats not a worry.

Gracie - the only med I know is my mum who was an A and E nurse for 25 years but her answer to it would be 'drug him! Do it! I did it with Small Trash, never did any harm!' so its not really the answer Im looking for.

Worra- his reaction was 20th October to be exact. Still reacting now even though hes not had the offending food (in this case dairy). Its called Urticaria and its a massive cunt. Its tortured him. :(

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 07/12/2011 17:51

I used to use Medised when ds was teething - was fab stuff. Personally I would give it to him because getting sleep will make him feel better.

Allergies are horrible - my ds has a nut one. Your poor baby Sad

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 07/12/2011 17:52

DD had urticaria a couple of months back and it's a royal pain in the arse. I feel for your poor ds :( Her trigger (we think) was figs, more easily avoidable than dairy.

She made it through on piriton and it made her absolutely manic. She was a nightmare for weeks while she was on it and calmed down again as soon as we took her off it. That would be my concern, that it would have the opposite effect to what you're hoping.

BackToB4Beatrice · 07/12/2011 17:54

Urticaria is basically nettel rash isn't it? How horrendous to have that for any length of time. I know it's an eczema remedy, but, the old bath in porridge oats may releive it a little when he is sore?

LovesBloominChristmas · 07/12/2011 17:56

Sorry I'm confused,I thought it didn't make him sleep before so why would it now.

valiumredhead · 07/12/2011 17:57

Yeah, Piriton can have the opposite effect and make them more wakeful/manic.

valiumredhead · 07/12/2011 17:58

Bicarb in the bath is soothing too.

WorraLiberty · 07/12/2011 18:00

Apart from 2 nights, for the last 2 months hes woken 8-12 times a night on average because if one reason or another, itchinf because of the hives, a cold, teething or all of the above

If it happened in October, and he hasn't slept properly for the last 2 months...it would seem it doesn't work anyway? Confused

valiumredhead · 07/12/2011 18:00

Those teething granuals are great too.

banana87 · 07/12/2011 18:20

I give DD medised and have done since she was 1 for when she's got a really bad cold. I personally would give him the med and also put him in my bed to tonight so as not to be up and down every 15 minutes. Hope you have a better night!

mummymeister · 07/12/2011 18:24

Go back to see your GP - they have to help both of you out. i really feel for you.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 07/12/2011 18:30

I am going to get slaughtered too but I would give it to him if you are sure it will make/help him sleep and not have the opposite effect. Sleep is SO important- to mum and baby. Good luck.

minibmw2010 · 07/12/2011 18:41

I'm going to add in with Medised. A GP friend said the guidelines changed to 6+ (Angry) because people were being a bit thick and using it alongside Calpol and obviously both have paracetamol and that's a no-no, but so long as they are not given at the same time she considered it perfectly safe. Smile

Good luck, I think you'll both be amazing after a couple if nights sleep.

531800000008 · 07/12/2011 18:49

folks please don't use Medised without medical advice - the problem with it is not the piggybacking with other paracetamol products, it's that putting them into an artifical sleep state can mask worsening symptoms

valiumredhead · 07/12/2011 18:51

IIRC it's just antihistamine in Medised so no better/worse than Pirition which people give children for hayfever 4x a day in the summer.

Original poster
WhiteTrash · 07/12/2011 18:51

Worra - I used the hydroxyzine for 4 nights which did def make him sleep but for about 4 hours waking once in that time and the rest of the night he woke hus normal amount. We we're thinking that if we did use it we could do it from 11-12am when he'd get a nice block of sleep and selfishly, we would too.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 07/12/2011 18:52

OTOH baby is only 6 months old and I'm not sure I gave ds anything at that age... it's all a hazey blur now!

Rikalaily · 07/12/2011 18:57

Tbh I would give him a dose, just to let him sleep, he's not going to get better if he's not sleeping. Our bodies heal more while asleep and it will make him feel better. I'm usually totally against giving kids anything to help them sleep but I think your little one has been through enough without adding sleep deprivation onto it... Also mine sleep alot worse if they are over tired, once the rough cycle has been broken and they get decent naps/sleep they sleep alot better through the night.

I get that reaction to the sun in the summer when it's strong, I have to take antihistamines and wear factor 40-50 when I have to go out in it. The rash isn't just itchy, it stings too like you have had fiber glass rubbed against your skin, totally horrible, poor little mite.

Original poster
WhiteTrash · 07/12/2011 19:08

I know I got it when I was pregnany, its literally tortuerous I wouldnt wish is on anyone. At its worst it was over every inch of his body.

However, that isnt the reason for me wanting to give it to him we're keeping ontop of the rash with steroids now so thats great.

Its just this illness and lack of sleep for so long.

We're going to play it by ear and if it gets really bad, consider giving him a dose. Although I'll probably wuss out in a 'if anything happened Id never forgive myself' way. I dont know why anything would happen though its just my over-tired, irrational mind.

With regarda to age, the bottles say not under 12 months. Both the piriton and hydroxyzine were prescribed.

OP posts:
Cadsuane · 07/12/2011 19:31

I have suffered fron eczema all my life and it has always affected my sleep. As a result as a child I was even prescribed sleepling tablets rather than antihistamines at one point as I was getting so little sleep. (and my mum and gp were never given to over medicating)
If he is still having problems with his skin, even if the steroids are working, its still worth using the hydroxyzine. It will just make him so much more comfortable, not even thinking of the sleep issues.