to expect to be able to buy medised for my child without an interragation?

[dogtanianrocks]

Grrrrrrrrr just got back from the chemist where I wanted some Medised for my ds almost 3, anyway was asked how old he was so said and she said sorry we can only sell it for children over 6, . I have used it lots and I asked her to look at the box which has dosages for 2 and upwards. I felt like I was being questioned because there are obviously people out there who use it as a sleep aid??? so therefore I cannot use it for my little boy who really needs it. Rant over

Exactly MIA - no specific concerns, so no brain damage, respiratory problems or any of the other anecdotal problems bandied about.

..but 'precautionary' means there's some doubt, so why would you? Surely that's the point. We all empathise with the need to get a lo stuffed full of cold a good night's sleep, but at the end of a day it is just a cold and these things pass.

I read the MHRA guidelines after reading about the changes on a thread on mumsnet.

I spoke to the Medised helpline and complained that it had been 2 weeks since those guidelines came out there was still no new advice on their website and it still said it was suitable from 2 years. I think my complaint was taken seriously as they have now updated the website.

The current stocks of medised will be allowed to sell through showing the old limit as the pharmacy will advise parents on the new guidelines. (bear in mind that last year the age was raised from 3 mths to 2 years so they ahve already had one repackaging)

I admit my son used medised from 4 1/2 mths, and when the first revised guidelines came in I used it still (only a few times) as he had been okay.

However when the new guidelines increased the age limit so dramitically I decided to stop using it. It wasn't worth the risk. I do miss it though. It was excellent when he had a terrible cold.

YABU to be annoyed that the pharmacist was just doing her job.

MHRA guidelines

YABU I am a pharmacy assistant - our policy is that when selling over the counter medicines (otc's) we must always ask who it's for, how old they are, other symptoms and if they are on any other medication etc. In light of the new guidelines regarding medised, being asked how old your child is is not a new thing.

Yes, the packaging still states that it is suitable for children aged 2 and over, but as has already been said, it is not possible to recall all the boxes. There should be a sign up in the pharmacy/ doctors surgery informing parents of this.

There are many other suitable medicines available for you to use.

Also, I don't know how could have missed the information, it was all over the news!

Previous MHRA guidelines issued March 08

Oh didn't realise you hadn't posted before dogtanian, I have been here for a couple of years now and still not brave enough to start an AIBU through fear of being flamed!!

It is fun though so I'd persevere with it, particularly if you are an argumentative so and so like me

My last comment on this then is basically medised is not advised for kids under 6 according to professionals so why take the risk for a common old cold?

However, if you are about to undertake a long haul flight to Sydney then this advice can be ignored

But why come on a thread asking whether it's unreasonable for a pharmacist to follow the latest guidelines - "How old is the child?" is hardly an interrogation - about a medicine then be surprised when people say "yes, actually, you ARE being unreasonable!"?

I posted a couple of weeks back saying my pharmacist told me to LIE about my DS's age to get some cough medicine from him (DS is 4). I was told I was being unreasonable then because the pharmacist was 'only trying to be helpful'!

Can't win really

Smee - the bias of the press release is also on the benefits or lack thereof rather than proven harm.

www.mhra.gov.uk/NewsCentre/Pressreleases/CON038902

I think it's easy to dismiss the efficacy of these meds if you have a child or children who are lucky enough not to suffer from awful, prolonged winter colds. Me eldest sailed through her first years with barely a sniffle - it's only with the others that I've learned the value of a product like Medised which eases their symptoms and helps them get a break from relentless nightime coughing.

I suppose like everyrthing, it's a question of balance and risk. Anecdotal stories about GPs who say medicines can cause brain damage won't change my mind.

hellos! I'm not sure I'm quite brave enough to post on it but for what its worth, I spoke to my pharmacist about it and he said that it was because too many parents were using Medised just to get a good sleep instead of for what its really meant for. I am aware that the current evidence suggests that most cough/cold medicines such as cough linctus for children have no real effect, are more placebos.

I agree that medised is handy if used responsibly when a child is struggling to sleep because of congestion etc and just needs a helping hand to settle and breathe. I spoke to my GP and he wrote a prescription for Medised for my DS who is 9 months.... not sure where that leave us!!!

I am a responsible parent and would never give my child something that is not safe. Hence speaking to my GP. I also believe that a lot of parents over-medicate their children anyway (don't even get me started on the subject of people demanding unnecessary anti-biotics!). However, this medised saga seems a bit unclear to me still....

IIRC from another thread, the "problem" lay with the antihistamine which in overdose had certain risks.

If the product was genuinely dangerous it would have been recalled and the packaging changed.

Sassybeast our GP is a paediatrician and not in the pay of any interested drug companies! I also asked ds's consultant paediatrician who was less forthright but also didn't recommend it.

I know loads of people who use it to ensure they (adults) get a good night's sleep uninterrupted by teething or upset children and I know plenty who always use it on their children when flying. As millypip says that is probably more the issue to be concerned with but very difficult for me to suddenly start using it when the two main health professionals involved in ds's care were against it!

think the mix up is that ibprofen can agrravate children with predeispotion to asthma and yes this is from a proper source and well known

And medised was useable from over 1 for my ds whos now 15 and ds12, and dd 6 hmm and come think about it ds 3 and yes i read about the advice its guidelines and funny when been in hospital with them they only use one streanth calpol and go by weight not age

I have always used Medised( sparingly) for upset kids with streaming noses. For me, it works. It has not changed since DD1 was a baby, now 14. DD3 is 16 months. I have used it with her once. I buy it with impunity, on the basis that I have older kids. My understanding is that it supposedly ineffective and therefore no longer recommended for younger children. Good job nobody has told my kids its ineffective because it seems to work with them. And yes, I do agree with OP, I think that I am intelligent enough to make a reasoned decision about this.

Just go to another chemist and lie about it.

The difficulty for the pharmacist is that they are obliged professionally and legally to ensure the medicines sales they make are safe and within the product licence.
Also, they are running a business - they're not going to refuse a sale without good reason.
I understand how frustrating this is but YABU.

YABU as pharmacist is only doing their job but I appreciate it is annoying that the guidelines have changed. An alternative to relieve a blocked nose is to buy child anti-histamine which is suitable from age one, has the same affect as medised and will probably make your child sleep.

I know of plenty of people who use medised to get make their children sleep and really don't approve but their kids their choice I guess. If the recent change in guidelines is because of people using it for this reason it is unfortunately a result of some irresponsible parents making things difficult for the rest if us who use medicines responsibly.