Child never responds to medicine

[Quitedrab]

I have a child who never responds to medicine. His fever never goes down with paracetamol or ibuprofin, his asthma barely improves with salbutemol. Whereas my other kids are fixed up like magic. I was just wondering, has anyone ever come across this? Is medicine resistance a thing you can have?

Mine don't respond to paracetamol and the evidence seems to support this view in many people at least for pain relief. I do sometimes give it if ibuprofen has not taken down a fever but even then it is not as effective. For some people though it is really effective. It is worth discussing options with a pharmacist/ doctor.

Would you say he is very flexible?

Sorry... wasn’t finished. There are some medical conditions which when looked at in relation to not responding to medications like pain relief might warrant a discussion with your GP. (Esp if your child has skin issues, circulatory problems and/or hypermobile joints.)

Thank you for your answers. No, he's not particularly flexible and his skin is normal. I've tried raising it with doctors especially re asthma, but they're not into it. Like, not interested. I'm just worried tonight because his fever won't go down, whereas his sister, who was also feverish, was so much better after medicine, and I realize it's always like that. It's almost as if there's no point giving him anything but of course I have to do something.

Quite often my DSs required BOTH ibuprofen and paracetamol to get the fever down. Alternating doses afterward kept it down.

@thebrockmans thanks that reference is really interesting (and scary). So it's all or nothing for pain.

I didn't think of alternating. Thanks.

Oh yes definitely alternate the medicine. I usually give ibuprofen first which often lasts about 4-5 hours then paracetamol for the last few hours to take the edge off it before ibuprofen again. This is what the dr advised but best to discuss medication with a pharmacist. Especially your usual pharmacist as they might be able to help the dialogue with the GP. For my dc it comes with their condition like justilou1 suggests.

Paracetamol barely dents DD's temperature but ibuprofen is very effective. I tend to only medicate above 38.5 as I've read that fevers under that are actually useful for aiding the body to fight infection.