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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the hospital should have prescribed calpol for my baby?

157 replies

PleaseLeaveVictor · 28/03/2012 10:17

Ds3 is 9 months old and was admitted to hospital for the 2nd time on Monday in the last few weeks. He has a nasty chest infection, oral thrush, ear infection, tonsillitis and a viral wheeze. He was admitted via our walk in centre as his sats were very low.

Fortunately after nebulisers and inhalers he was ok and we were able to being him home with a prescription for thrush medicine and inhalers. We were told to give him dioralyte as he has diarreah and was a bit dehydrated and paracetamol for pain relief.

I had used the last of our calpol just before we had for to the doctors so I asked if we could have a prescription to get some more. I had spent over £10 on a taxi to the hospital as there were no transfers available and needed to spend the same amount to get back and I didn't have any spare money with me nor in the bank as I am broke until Friday.

I was told they wouldn't prescribe paracetamol or dioralyte as they were available to buy in boots (over £3 each) I did explain that I didn't have enough money and just got a shrug and a sigh. They eventually wrote a prescription for one sachet if dioralyte but not the paracetamol.

I could have used the taxi money to buy some but didn't want to take a sick baby on 4 buses in the dark, he was only wearing shorts and t shirt as we hasn't expected to be sent to hospital.

I called my mum and asked her to get me some medicine for him and luckily she could.

Should the doctor have prescribed pain reliefs and dioralyte?

OP posts:
MadameMessy · 28/03/2012 11:21

Because scored tablets are ok to be broken, crushing is different. Lots of tablets aren't scored as the manufacturer cannot guarantee the drug is evenly distributed throughout

Lueji · 28/03/2012 11:21

I am surprised. At hospital they have given us bottles of infant paracetamol.
Regardless of needing the money or not.

KalSkirata · 28/03/2012 11:21

I had no idea this wasnt common MadameMessy. Paediatricians have advised us to do this for years now. dd has been on many many types of drugs and this is what we have always done. How do I know this isnt normal as this is what is done in the hospital constantly. I know little of life outside it.

tantrumsandballoons · 28/03/2012 11:22

A consultant does what kal, works out the dosage?

If that's the case why on earth would you advise other parents to do this at home?

Chopstheduck · 28/03/2012 11:22

Does the powder actually dissolve evenly though? Wouldn't it sink to the bottom?

Haziedoll · 28/03/2012 11:23

You have received medical advice that is appropriate to your child's needs.

It is dangerous for people to take that advice and apply it to their own circumstances.

Why are MN being so slow to delete these posts? Kal, I know you meant well but the posts need to be deleted.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 28/03/2012 11:23

We are able to get medication for minor ailments from our chemist too. It includes paracetamol, ibuprofen, diorylite, nose drops, eye drops, nit lotions etc.

Find out if your local chemist does the same, it will need to be the one where your prescriptions from the doctor normally.

MadameMessy · 28/03/2012 11:24

But in hospital is very different! Its a safe environment that is under medical supervision. You are not a doctor, so should not advise someone on something so dangerous.

FannyFifer · 28/03/2012 11:24

Kal why are you not using medicines in liquid form?

WandaDoff · 28/03/2012 11:24

If you are in Scotland, you can get paracetamol &n many other things like that from your local chemist on the minor ailments scheme. Not sure about anywhere else.

KalSkirata · 28/03/2012 11:24

no, we work out the dose.
Omeprazole and antibiotics dont dissolve well and block the tube. I shalll bow out. everyone should buy calpol.

KalSkirata · 28/03/2012 11:26

Fanny - just for you. dd must not have any carbs. Liquid children's meds are high carb, even the sugar free ones. ts why we have always had to crush tablets. pain in the arse actually.

MadameMessy · 28/03/2012 11:27

So you're giving crushed meds through a peg or similar when an easier and safer alternative is available? That's madness too.

MadameMessy · 28/03/2012 11:28

Oh sorry x post.
Sorry your dd is so poorly btw kal

2shoes · 28/03/2012 11:29

pmsl at someone asking K al is not using Liquid.
sorry that is funny.
(kal does the para actually dissolve in the drink? dd hates the liquid Para. and although she is getting good with tablets, she won't always take Para when she needs is)

FarloRigel · 28/03/2012 11:30

I would categorically not advise crushing a standard tablet, mixing it in water then calculating the dose by volume if not specifically instructed to do this by a doctor and ideally backed up by a pharmacist as well as not all doctors will be aware of how soluble differing formulations of drugs are. Many pharmaceuticals are not fully soluble in water and will therefore be distributed unevenly in the syringe. You could still easily over or under dose a child and especially with something like paracetamol which can cause death with only modest overdosing it really isn't safe with a standard over the counter tablet not designed to disperse evenly. Please don't do it.

tantrumsandballoons · 28/03/2012 11:31

Sorry kal sounds like things are tough for you at the moment.

Please dont advise any one else to do this though, obviously you have a lot of experience working it out but I would hate to think someone might crush up an adult paracetamol and put the whole thing into a juice bottle

HorribleDay · 28/03/2012 11:32

Kal - if you'd provided contact great. But you didn't. Some people - ESP when skint - will read your post and think it's fine to give crushed adult preparation paracetamol.

It's not.

scuzy · 28/03/2012 11:32

just a different spin on things ... i always ensure i am stocked up on calpol, nurofen, paralink, vicks etc for when ds is poorly. OP do you not do this? or wait til your little one is sick and then have to find the money.

tantrumsandballoons · 28/03/2012 11:34

Scuzy, the op said she had run out of calpol as her dc had been poorly for a while

KalSkirata · 28/03/2012 11:35

well I heartily apolosgise. I assumed it was normal.

scuzy · 28/03/2012 11:36

fair enough. but still more management though on OP's side of things i feel. what happens if in middle of night your child has a temp? you should always ensure you have these basic medicines to hand.

scuzy · 28/03/2012 11:38

and surely on leaving the hospital you had time to get some calpol. you can only use every 4 hours anyway.

Heswall · 28/03/2012 11:38

Every hospital admission costs £300 you'd think they would do anything they can to avoid those.

Mishy1234 · 28/03/2012 11:39

YANBU. They should have given you a prescription for paracetamol, especially when you explained the situation. Actually, I don't see how they could discharge your DS in good conscience knowing that you didn't have any.

We have a system in Scotland where you can get certain OTC items free directly from the pharmacist for children. I don't know what the system is in the rest of the country, but I think it's a good idea and ensures that ALL children are getting what they need.