Calpol!

[Poliosmolio123]

Why does everyone always jump to using Calpol straight away and it's always the first bit of advice they give?

Baby sad, ah must give them calpol
Baby teething Calpol!
Baby has a temperature raised by 0.2 of a degree, oh they need calpol
Baby not sleeping - give them Calpol!

Like, is it only me who just doesn't like the stuff or want to medicate my child willy nilly?

Its the first thing any of my family members do or say and it makes me feel like a shitty parent for not wanting to give it to them! Obviously I would if I was advised by a HC professional.

Is this totally unreasonable?

YABU - I use Calpol all the time
YANBU - I don't use it all the time

Don't get me started about anbesol.

@cuntryclub and @NoWordForFluffy I get that it doesn’t contain sedative, but one of the side effects of paracetamol in adults is feeling drowsy/ dizzy so why not babies? I think it’s possible for a drug to make you feel sleepy even if not a sedative per se by affecting the brain chemistry in Other ways (although I’m no expert!) Perhaps my baby goes to sleep because the calpol makes her feel better, but my observation is that it makes her sleepy- I suppose those could be different ways of saying the same thing!

Like I said, depends on the family and situation, but I know if my family were telling me that it would be because they thought DD wasn't well. Even if DD had no obvious symptoms of a particular illness, if she was in very bad form compared to normal and I couldn't pinpoint why I would consider a dose of paracetamol in case she wasn't feeling well. I would rather give a very occasional dose unnecessarily than leave her in pain.

Also, just to be open about it, I've reported your post for the use of "having a paddy", I assume you're not aware it's an anti Irish slur.

@Braveheart101

To be fair an extraordinary amount of people have suggested to me that I give my non-sleeping 3 year old a dose of piritin.

I’d never do that.

Even if advised to by HCPs?

Surely if you are less pain then you would sleep better?

Id rather have some actual advice and support for a non sleeping 3 year old from a HCP rather than to use a medication off license which doesn't resolve the underlying issues of why they aren't sleeping; just gives a night or so of respite.

@mindystclaire No, my daughter isn't in bad form otherwise I wouldn't hesitate. Obviously. I'm not going to sit and neglect my child. Again, that wasnt my point.

Obviously not! Otherwise I would of used it. She was, in my eyes. I dint understand why you would even tell me you'd reported it, or not mention it before reporting it. As yiu say I clearly didn't know. She was upset because I wouldn't let her play with a sharp knife at a BBQ. 🙄

@Ernieshere most definitely, but, she shows zero sign of being in pain just being tired!

@Iwalkinmyclothing unsure why or if any HCP would prescribe pritin just to help a child sleep if they are not having a reaction to anything?

*wouldn't

@IHaveBrilloHair

Meh, I went straight for the laudanum.

I have had a bad night and this made me really laugh thank you!

I rarely used paracetamol for DD. Teething wasn’t too bad for her, she had a few ear / throat infections so she had it then but generally, I always wondered how people went through so much calpol.

Then when she was 2 she broke her leg. She never cried, or screamed or winced with pain. We took her to the hospital and I was asked how much paracetamol she had and when she had it. I was really embarrassed to tell them I hadn’t given her any. They gave her some straight away. That’s when I realised that actually, outward signs of distress or pain wasn’t the only reason to give pain relief to kids. I have no idea if her leg hurt and she was just dealing with it or if it really didn’t hurt. I hadn’t asked her.

It was at that point I started to think more about giving paracetamol for things like teething and stuff, even if she wasn’t screaming the place down.

Oh gosh

I have one child who would use it all the time

I then have another child who would never take any type of medication. She’s also the one who spikes 41 temps. However we’ve seen a specialist dr who said her fevers didn’t need medicating if she didn’t want too.

So we don’t ever use it. I mean one bottle can last us years!

but one of the side effects of paracetamol in adults is feeling drowsy/ dizzy so why not babies

This is not a side effect of paracetamol.

@MintyMabel Thank you for your comment, definitely something to take on board! I'm just never sure whether it is teething or if she's sad because she's going through a leap (which wouldn't cause pain) or generally just because I've told her no! She's luckily been really good with her teeth, doesn't get sad and just bites down on things which I assume would give her the relief she is after? But, definitely a different way to think about it as if I have an aching tooth ache ill try avoid it but if it continues I'll have a painkiller, but, so hard when they can't tell you what is actually going on! I think because it's over used in my house and family, it's making me be overly cautious about using the stuff

@Happyheartlovelife Yes, our doc also said to try ride out a temperature as its there for a reason but if it hit 40 then to give a dose of Calpol, but luckily so far she has never actually had one above 38. We have given it under the advise of a HCP previously as she didn't have symptoms and he just said to give it incase she is in pain which I did as I was advised. Obviously, like this thread has reiterated every child and parent is different but seems to be a good mix of who uses it sparingly and who gives it out more often which is what I was trying to get a gauge of, but the poll is around 50/50! So hard to know!

@Poliosmolio123

Does your username mean that you don't vaccinate? I was wondering if you generally mistrust medical treatments?

@ahf1975 No, we have had our vaccinations here. I just don't agree with Calpol given to shut children up which I've experienced.

My kids are grown up now but I’ve probably used one bottle in 22 years. I’ve chucked so many out that I’ve opened, used once and then it’s gone out of date.

I too know people who use it fir absolutely everything.

YANBU I find it really weird.

We don't take paracetamol if we can't sleep or have a runny nose (as it would do nothing), so why would we give it to our children.

@MintyMabel

but one of the side effects of paracetamol in adults is feeling drowsy/ dizzy so why not babies

This is not a side effect of paracetamol.

Um @MintyMabel yes it is:

adf.org.au/drug-facts/paracetamol/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20side%20effects,rashes%20and%20itching.

I've also experienced these side effects myself!

When my first child was born there was a whole raft of meds to help them sleep like calpol night and medised, funnily enough they all got taken off the market due to parents abusing them.

@bizawit

Not listed on any of the leaflets for the paracetamol in my house. Not listed on NHS inform website. And never when been prescribed it have I been warned not to drive.

Drugs.com says if you experience tiredness with paracetamol, you need to see a doctor.

@MintyMabel I don't think it's considered 'severe' enough to be listed on packet/ NHS site perhaps - in fact the NHS website just says there are 'no side effects' - I guess because unless you take an overdose, it's not dangerous, so no need to cause undue alarm.
But paracetomol does make me feel a bit light headed and drowsy and plenty of medical bodies do list this as a common side effect.

I don't think it's considered 'severe' enough to be listed on packet/ NHS site perhaps - in fact the NHS website just says there are 'no side effects'

"Plenty" don't. The only one I could find was the one you posted.

If it isn't severe enough to be listed as a side effect then it isn't a side effect.

@Poliosmolio123

You don’t actually need Calpol if it hits 40. Fever are natural. The body is raising the core temperature to kill the virus. You’ll notice that if you lower fever down to normal whilst ill it will take slightly longer to go. This is due to the core being lowered. They aren’t sure why paracetamol works. Even to this day.

The one problem with excessive paracetamol is it’s excreted by the liver. Even small doses of paracetamol can be fatal. I feel it should be more controlled. As even 8 can kill an adult. The problem with overusing it is the effect on the liver. Especially as when we become adults we use other things that are excretes by the liver. Including alcohol. I often see patients who go out drinking and then take 2 paracetamol as a pre requisite to their hang over. Which is the worst thing they could do. Both damage the liver. One you’ve taken too much of to start with. So add in paracetamol and you’ve got a bad cocktail. If anything people need to be taking aspirin. (If able too) or to take ibuprofen after a night out. But obviously. The easiest thing is not to drink too excess.

This is why if you’ve ever had a child get hold of a bottle of Calpol and drink it. Which we see often. Then you need to be seen urgently.

Other drugs are much harder to overdose on. Paracetamol is incredibly easy. It’s also easily accessible which makes it a deadly combination in my view.

[quote Bizawit]**@cuntryclub* and @NoWordForFluffy* I get that it doesn’t contain sedative, but one of the side effects of paracetamol in adults is feeling drowsy/ dizzy so why not babies? I think it’s possible for a drug to make you feel sleepy even if not a sedative per se by affecting the brain chemistry in Other ways (although I’m no expert!) Perhaps my baby goes to sleep because the calpol makes her feel better, but my observation is that it makes her sleepy- I suppose those could be different ways of saying the same thing![/quote]
I've never felt drowsy after taking parcetamol. In fact only yesterday I woke up with a raging headache due to a poor nights sleep, took a paracetamol and it perked me up no end.

That's not to say that someone, somewhere doesn't react to it that way. That's the nature of medication. My husband goes drowsy/dizzy if he takes anything with sodium in.