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Original poster

Piriton and Medised

17 replies

scrambled · 04/02/2009 21:36

DD has chickenpox and is covered in spots, poor thing. We had a bad night last night with itching keeping her awake so tonight I have given 2.5ml of Piriton before bed, at about 7:30pm. She also had some before her afternoon sleep at about 12:30. So I don't think I can give her anymore tonight. What i was wondering was if I could give her Medised if she wakes up tonight to help her sleep (because the antihistamine stops scratching and not because I want to drug her!!!) The active ingredients are different and she hasn't had any calpol at all today. Any thoughts? I don't want to overdose her on anti-histamine!

OP posts:
CandleQueen · 04/02/2009 21:38

No, I don't think you can give Medised and Piriton together. I certainly wouldn't, just in case.
The active ingredients are different, but do similar things.

FrazzledFairyFay · 04/02/2009 21:39

I am not a medic but I'd be very nervous about doing that. I don't think I would, to be honest. Is there a late-opening pharmacy that you could call and ask for advice?

foxinsocks · 04/02/2009 21:41

I wouldn't

Original poster
scrambled · 04/02/2009 21:42

It was always a long shot!! Thankyou - I think 2 no's are enough to persuade me not to. Rather be safe than sorry.

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IwishIwasmoreorganised · 04/02/2009 21:44

You can always check with NHS direct for a more objective answer

Saltire · 04/02/2009 21:47

Piriton has Diphenhydramine in it, which is a kind of sedating antihstamine (for want of a better descrption), it can have a sedative effect. As does/can Medised, so no I wouldn't

Saltire · 04/02/2009 21:48

Try calamine cream, not the lotion!

Original poster
scrambled · 04/02/2009 21:53

Thankyou Saltire - we have the cream, oats in the bath, bicarb in the bath and also eye drops for the accompanying conjunctivitus! She is being incrediby good, considering!

OP posts:
CandleQueen · 04/02/2009 21:55

Oh bless her Scrambled.
I hope she's feeling better soon.

SlightlyMadScotland · 04/02/2009 21:57

No I am 95% you can't give piriton and medised. You will over dose on anti-histamines.

That is precisely teh reason medi-sed has been withdrawn from use in under 2's. Just because the active ingrediants are different entities they are from teh same class of drugs so shouldn't be taken together

SlightlyMadScotland · 04/02/2009 21:59

How old is she Scrambled? I assume she is almost 2 from your profile. How big is she for her age (small/medium/average)?

Original poster
scrambled · 04/02/2009 22:08

She is 2 on 23rd feb, and is tall for her age (most people assume she is 3!) I wondered if that was why it had been withdrawn - also noticed this evening that is has exactly the same ingredients as calcold (which she used to have until they wouldn't sell it to me any more) It's good to know - but why just under 2's?

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SlightlyMadScotland · 04/02/2009 22:16

Because the risk of overdoes is increased because babies are so small and therefore more easily overdosed. And because they are so variable in weight proportionately.

You could have a neworn that was 5lb in weight and another double the size at 10lb. Makes dose recommendations difficult. 5yo tend not to be double anothers size IYSWIM.

It is also the paracetamol OD risk.

Anyway. What I was getting to. The Piriton dose up to 2yo is twice per day - so you would be OD'ing by giving it overnight.

BUT when she is 2 (which is based on weight of average 2yo - hence the reason for asking about size) she can have up to 6 doses per day (every 4-6hrs).

So if she desperately needed relief - given she is 2 1/2 weeks away from 2 and not small for her age you could consider giving her another dose of Piriton. If it was me I probably would if she really needed it. I cannot make that decision for you though. I am only telling you what I would do though...and I wouldn't max out on the 6 doses in 24hrs...but 3-4 should be OK based on the guidleines.

CountessDracula · 04/02/2009 22:17

have you tried Eurax lotion?
That stopped dd's chickenpox itching for hours at a time

davidbowiescodpiece · 04/02/2009 22:18

Just be aware that these medicines make some children hyper- I gave it to my dd when she had chicken pox and she was climbing the walls

Original poster
scrambled · 04/02/2009 22:25

Thankyou SlightlyMadinScotland - that does make it clearer, obvious i suppose when you think about it. Wouldn't of given her anymore Piriton tonight anyway because she has had 2 doses- so no more until lunchtime tomorrow if she needs it then. I do tend to try not to give anything unless she really needs it, and it is to relive her suffering and not mine! I do like to know the reasons behind things! makes it so much easier to make a decision

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Original poster
scrambled · 04/02/2009 22:27

Off to bed now - just in case we have another night like last night!! Thankyou everyone!

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