Chlorpheniramine maleate for 2 month old?? Advice please

[Mmmango]

Am not in the UK, so advice to see a GP doesn't apply.

Dd is 10 weeks old and has a bad cough, with lots of phlegm that she can't get out until she coughs herself sick. It's horrible, plus when she is sick she's getting her mouth and nose so bunged up with mucous I'm worried she's going to choke.

Have seen a local doctor and been given cough syrup with chlorphenamine maleate, ammonium chloride and sodium citrate in it. The box says it's okay from 1 month, but a quick google (I know, I know) and it looks like chlorpheniramine maleate isn't suitable for bfing mothers, never mind infants.

Any HCP able to tell me if this is safe? Or could someone with infants' cough syrup go and check the bottle and see if it has chlorpheniramine maleate in it? I'd be really grateful.

I have some eucalyptus oil in a burner and have propped up her moses basket so she can get a bit of sleep, but any other non-medication solutions would be great. Thanks.

Hi there. My baby's (18 month) cough medicine has brompheniramine maleate and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride in it, it's called Dimetapp. I only used it once or twice as I felt the saline drops also prescribed helped more (and I am sensitive to pseudoephedrine so wasn't happy about giving it to any of my boys).

Try filling the bath with very hot water, drop the eucalyptus in and sit in the bathroom for a while. Can you get a humidifier?

I hope she gets better soon.

Thanks Gregory, how do you use the saline drops? Maybe I could get those from a pharmacy.

You can get them from a pharmacy. There's a product called Sterimar and there's a paediatric version. It's nasal spray/drops. Where are you? We're in Bahrain.

In Thailand. Just got her off to sleep for a bit (I hope), after lots of crying -not like her at all.
thanks, I'll get down to the pharmacist when she wakes up (not too soon I hope!)

Mmmango

Here is a link to the precribing information for UK chlorphenamine based products:

PIL is patient leaflet that you get in the box and SPC is the information used by doctors

I am not an HCP so can't advise re the safety unfortunately.

As Leonie says they are only recommended for children over 1 (I've only checked a few of the syrups in the list). The boots one has a contraindication for newborns:

"Premature infants or neonates because of their increased susceptibility to the antimuscarinic effects."

There should be a contact number for a medical advisor on the patient information supplied with the medicine or you could look up the name of the manufacturer and call them.

Hope DD improves soon

Thanks all, it seems pretty clear that this wouldn't have been prescribed in the UK. I've got a saline solution now, so going to stick to that for a few days at least.

We were prescribed it when dd was around 2-3 months old because of her constant itching due to excema.

It says on the box only from age 1 which I queried and was told it is safe but as it (can be) a 'drowsy' medication which you can also get over the counter they have to put that age limit on the box.

She is 16 mo now and has been taking it on and off since first prescribed.

Hi Mmmango over here (Belgium) they are very keen on physio for infants with sticky coughs and colds. You go to a kinésithérapiste - don't know if anything similar exists in Thailand but you never know (with massage tradition etc). They basically pummel them in a very skilful manner until the child coughs it all out - not pleasant to witness but v. effective. DD had it done at 7 months and it really helped her turn a corner after a horrible cough that had dragged on for months.

Wishing your dd a speedy recovery and a good night's rest for yourself.

what is the brand name of your medicine and then i might be able to help

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-546909/Cough-medicine-banned-children-100-remedies-taken-shelves. html this might help...these are the ones that have been banned for use un under 2 years old from otc sales

we were prescribed piriton (clorphenamine maleate) for ds1 when he was 5 months old - in case of allergic reactions. Have used it recently for ds2 at 5 months as well, for itchiness (eczema? - not sure).. checked with GP and paediatrician - said was fine, just not licensed for under 1 year.