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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to give my baby medised?

59 replies

KorkiiEffenkrakers · 07/05/2010 20:45

Need some advice really. I don't really like Medised and have only ever given it to DS1 once but DS2 (7 months) has had a bad head cold (no temperature) for the last 3 days and is waking up about once an hour HOWLING with rage and misery. DH went to Boots today but they said there are no decongestants that they can sell for under twos.

He is pale with red eyes and utterly miserable.

I know there are new guidelines on medised too but don't know what they are. AIBU to not medicate him as I don't like the stuff or should I put his comfort first?

BTW he is sleeping in his chair to try to stop all the muscus blocking him up but it's not doing the trick.

OP posts:
sungirltan · 07/05/2010 21:08

have you not tried Nasosal?

i wouldn't take the risk with my dd (also 7 months)

parakeet · 07/05/2010 21:09

I have ONLY ever used Medised for its sedative properties.

Sometimes the most beneficial thing you can do for all the family is to help the child AND the parents to get some sleep.

Vallhala · 07/05/2010 21:09

Personal choice but my DDs were babes before the change in regulations about Medised and I gave it to them when they were suffering as yours is, with no ill-effects and only benefits.

As I understand it the changes are to do with the dangers of mixing Medised with other medication, not the drug itself.

cupcakesandbunting · 07/05/2010 21:11

Sorry melpomene but "eye on the ceiling" just made me really chuckle...

mnistooaddictive · 07/05/2010 21:13

My GP hs an 18 month child and he said the reason the regulations were changed were because of a very very small risk of a heart thing being caused by it. He said if your child has a really nasty cold and is really bunged up then it is probably worth risk but not just because you need a quiet night.

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 07/05/2010 21:13

Damp cloth on a radiator/vaporiser might help?

LordVolAuVent · 07/05/2010 21:15

A GP friend of mine told me the age guidelines had been raised (to 6 or 7, can't remember which) only because there was questions over its efficacy, which confuses most people as nearly all do find it effective. She recommended it to me (off the record) in a similar situation, and it helped.

Don't give any other medicines at the same time.

If you're still worried, have you thought about Piriton? This also may help the congestion but contains an antihistamine which might knock him out a bit help him be more able to sleep and the recommended age is 1, still a bit high but less so than medised (again okayed to me by GP friend).

Is horrible when they can't sleep isn't it? Espescially when they need their sleep to recover! Hope he gets better soon.

Yorkshiretea71 · 07/05/2010 21:15

Our hospital recommended using Calpol and Karvol in cup with tissue and hot water poured onto tissue in baby's room to ease breathing.
I use Medised but mine are little older - I use a smaller dose though than recommends for their age.

SloanyPony · 07/05/2010 21:15

Medised contains an antihistamine called Diphenhydramine. Its not actually a decongestant, unless the congestion is caused by allergy. For colds, it really should not be effective, though some parents will swear blind its the only thing that clears snot, one has to wonder if the snot is caused by dust allergy or some such if that is the case but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that it clears it.

Its not a sedative but it induces drowsiness in adults and children alike. Ever had Benylin for flu in the office and then tried to stay awake at your desk? Big mistake!

Ever had cough nurse? Wonderful product. Codeine and Diphenhydramine.

People were misusing it. Im pretty damn sure it wont hurt your 7 month old as it used to be from 3 months and I'd hazard a guess that they withdrew it because people were using it as a sleep aid. However, please dont assume it will clear the snot - its an antihistamine, so I'm not really sure that it will. Get a Karvol plug in. Calpol do a saline spray that is quite good which you spray up their nose. Get a humidifier. Or use the medised, but dont expect a miracle snot wise.

cupcakesandbunting · 07/05/2010 21:17

Having read what others have said re: gps prescribing it, then I would definitely give him half a dose (2.5ml) If GPs are still prescribing it for under-2's then that is so that they can give you proper advice on administering it (i.e with NO OTHER paracetamol products/correct dosage only)

lechatnoir · 07/05/2010 21:19

i would give it to my 10mths old and would have done from around 6 months as I did with my eldest if he was suffering as OP described.
I thought guidelines changed because people were abusing it as a sedative & obviously too much/too often is wrong but TBH, I know my kids have had the odd night when they were full of cold, miserable & just needed a decent kip & medised is a god-send in those situations IMO & I'm glad I've got a bottle in the cupboard just in case.
incidentally, I think it must be a very mild sedative as none of mine have ever been difficult to rouse or overly tired the next day just less restless & more settled.
LCN

Yorkshiretea71 · 07/05/2010 21:19

Go with what you feel comfortable - small dose Medised will help tonight then maybe go to chemist for spray as SloanyPony says above

Meglet · 07/05/2010 21:21

sloany It does clear up dd's tidal waves of snot, she has to have new sheets & gro-bag every morning when it's bad. I think I will investigate the possibility of an allergy triggering it .

jaffacake2 · 07/05/2010 21:24

If he is full of mucus then it would be better to take him into a steamy bathroom or use a humidifier if you have one.The steam will clear his nose and airways.
If you get a bad night then it would be worth trying to see a doctor tomorrow to have his ears checked as may be developing an ear infection.

Cloudbase · 07/05/2010 21:41

You don't need to give him Medised, because there is now a new product by the company that make Calpol called Calcold. I was advised to use it by both my GP and a local pharmacist when DS age 2 recently had a shocking, streaming cold and really nasty cough and was awake and distressed all night.

It is exactly the same as Medised, but all the ingredients are at half the dose. It is licensed for use over 3months. It's says on the box 'For relief of Cold and Flu symptoms'

It contains 120mg Paracetamol and 12.5 mg Diphenhydramine per 5ml. The dosage on the side says
3months - 1 year one to two 2.5 ml spoonfuls 3 - 4 times a day.This would equate to 1 x5ml teaspoon of Medised.

If you are not sure, if you go to your chemist they will be able to advise you.

SloanyPony · 07/05/2010 21:44

I would if I were you Meglet - you are not the only person to say that and I believe you I really do - but if an antihistamine is clearing up LOTS of snot (its hard to clear LOTS of snot isn't it! Show me a way when I next have a cold!) then you have to wonder if they are a bit allergic or intolerant to an allergen.

I'm not against using it as a sleep aid (though the fact that they have changed the age is something I feel I should take into account) and I use diphenhydramine as a sleep aid for MYSELF when I have a rotter of a cough/chest infection in conjunction with a cough suppressant (also bad, and to be used in moderation as it wont help you in the long run) because there comes a time if you are sick as a dog you just need SLEEP. Kids are probably the same, from a recovery point of view but now they've changed the age you have to just consider what you are personally comfortable with.

I wish we could exercise true informed consent on this one - tell us the truth on why you withdrew it, and if there are any risks or if it was being misused and let us decide to ignore the guideline or not. If its just simply that some idiots were using it as part of the bath book bed routine, well, great. But if it causes some scary heart defect, ffs let us know. Yes, people should just not use it unless they've reached the age but in actual fact, it was safe for 3 months plus only 2 years ago so just treat us like intelligent human beings and tell us why it is now not, or we will dismiss it as nanny-stateism when it might be a hell of a lot more serious than that.

Original poster
KorkiiEffenkrakers · 07/05/2010 21:49

I've just looked up Calcold and it says 'not for use in children under 6'. I am guessing your GP was doing the same thing as others have said and saying really that there is no risk in younger children taking it.

I agree with your point Sloanypony. If people don't know the truth (or at least trust what they are being told) then they will just make their own decisions about something.

OP posts:
Pancakeflipper · 07/05/2010 21:54

I have given it to my YS when he was 12 months old (we had a bottle that my ES had used and I didn't know it had changed the ages several times).

Olbad oil, vapour rubs and flannels on the radiators are great too but just sometimes medicine is needed to get them comfy so they can rest and recuperate.

mnistooaddictive · 07/05/2010 21:54

Sorry I ws a bit vague earler. I don't think it causes a heart defect that is permaenent but a racing heart type thing temporary reacyion. Racing heart thing can be dangerous and needs to be treated but not lifelong damage.
Sorry if I scared anyone.

Cloudbase · 07/05/2010 21:57

Oh, I'm concerned now, becuase I bought it in a chemist, and it specifically says 3+ months - tbh I assumed it was something that had been brought out after the whole Medised thing.

SloanyPony · 07/05/2010 22:02

Dont worry mnis, I really think if it were something like that they would actually say. It would be emblazoned all over it, rather than just "7+" or whatever it is.

People will just do whatever though, its human nature. That's why we just need to know. I hate being treated like a silly child who can't make their own decisions, yet can also see that others misuse it and it is their children that will suffer. Arghrrr.

Cloudbase · 07/05/2010 22:03

I've just checked the Calpol website and you are quite right about Calcold - so sorry for the duff advice! Am hugely

I'm really annoyed about this actually, as I assumed that so long after the change in regulations, that the stock would have new or updated packaging. I know that the GP's can still recommend using Medised at a low dose in certain cases, but am seriously annoyed at the chemist for actually advising me that he could take Calcold when he shouldn't.

binjibaghi · 07/05/2010 22:04

DS was always helped by steamy shower with few drops of karvol followed by karvol on hanky near the cot but this only lasted for so long - recently got a plug in karvol vaporiser thing which definitely helped for longer !!!

snala · 07/05/2010 22:11

I bought a bottle LAST MONTH from the chemist and its from 2YR + (the same as calcold).

The bottle I replaced had 6M+ on it. I asked the chemist and my SIL (paramedic)if it was the same product. It is. Nothing has changed.None of the ingredients.

Would you give it if it had 6M+ on the bottle?

Hope Ds feels better soon and the rest of you get some sleep.

snala · 07/05/2010 22:14

Sorry I got calcold mixed with calpol night. I don't know anything about calcold.

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