Nurofen and calpol question, can anyone help?

[winteroversummer]

My DS has just turned four.
He has a very painful ear tonight. Often when he has a cough or cold it turns into an ear infection. We saw a specialist earlier this year and he has suggested grommets as a possible solution.

Anyway, my question is can I give calpol and nurofen at the same time to help kick start the pain relief, before hopefully getting some antibiotics tomorrow?

I'm trying to get through to 111 to find out an answer but have been waiting for nearly 40 mins and DS crying out so much in pain

Yes you can

Hi, yes you can. They do recommend that you leave a bit of a gap between them but I have a pharmacist in the family that has said that it’s fine to give them at the same time so I always have done when needed. Hope it works and he feels better soon, horrible watching your kids in pain.

Sorry your ds is unwell. Hope he feels better soon.

He just needs something to help him with the pain to get some sleep tonight, poor thing

Yes, you can.

NHS advice is not to see here

Yes, you can. He might also find comfort in a warm hot water bottle held to his ear.

You can give them at the same time but it’s best practice to leave a gap, so, dose of calpol, couple of hours and then dose of brufen. Obviously check the max recommended dosage for the age of your DC.
Alternating the doses means that DC gets a dose of pain relief every few hours and helps keeps pain under control, rather than going 4-6 hours and having a bit of a dip in pain management and having to wait for the drug to be effective.

@NannyR yes that's what I read and why I asked, and why I'm trying to get through to 111. I was 99% sure that we were told to give both last time to kick start the pain relief and help him to sleep, but just couldn't remember for sure. Post on here have reassured me so thank you

Yes, you can. An A&E doctor gave them to our then 7 month baby at the same time as she had an out of control temperature that they needed to bring down ASAP.

Hope your DS gets better soon.

No, not at the same time. If one isn't working after a while you can give the other.

As a once off you could but I would give one, then wait 2 hours and give the other as paracetamol is 4 hourly & ibuprofen 6/8 hourly so once the paracetamol wears off a bit you could give ibuprofen.

You are supposed to alternate, but I do give both together to begin with to get on top of things. Then as Calpol is every 4 hours max 4 times a day and ibuprofen is every 6 hours max 3 times a day, you can stagger it going forwards.

Yes, you can give both as they are both different pain medications. Though, I was told, give one, then 2 hours later give the other and alternate.

In case anyone stumbles across this thread in the future-

Just off the phone with 111 they said we can give both medications at the same time to help with the pain, and then alternate there on

Thanks all