Is Piriton really a sedative?

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Because DD had a dose before bed last night (to ease itchy pox) and was up half the night climbing, crawling and shouting. A dose of medised in the small hours settled her within five minutes even though I had assumed that the piriton and medised would be the same in this regard - both being sedative antihistimines.

Has anyone experienced this kind of thing with piriton?

not with Piriton buut ds1 has a similar reaction to Calpol which is supposed to be a sedative on most children.
I've always put it down to a reaction to the colourings/flavourings in it.

Not for the kids, but for me.

The "sedative" antihystamines make me hyperactive. The non-drowsy one cetirizine hydrochloride (spelling?) don't make me sleepy, but are the only ones that don't give me insomnia.

(and my reaction isn't colourings because I have the tablets )

I hate piriton - really makes me feel gross. I take clarityn for hayfever but if I'm having an allergic reaction to something benadryl is best. I've given the children benadryl (sp?) too with no side effects.

the yellow colouring in it can make some kids climb the walls but generally it is a sedative

Yes, the benadryl syrup for kids is supposed to be good (again, that's cetirizine hydrochloride) and is suitable from the age of 2+ apparently.

I had the same experience the only time I gave my ds piriton (also for c. pox), he was up and bouncing all night!!!!!!!!!!

I had a very strange reaction to Piriton tablets....a short period feeling like I'd taken speed (not that I know how that really feels) followed by odd symptoms that made me think I'd had a stroke. As I was driving dd at the time it isn't something I'll be taking again

DD is only 14 months so is there anything else I can give her for the itching (its in her eyes, nose, etc). People have mentioned homeopathic remedies but, of course, that's a load of old twaddle

Piriton is a sedative in most people but can have the opposite effect in a few.

Medised souldn't be taken with piriton as it has the same mechanism of action (antihistamine). It can also stimualte some kids.

Completely knocks me out - will only take it when I know I can sleep for a couple of hours. I am very susceptible to drugs that cause drowsiness

She has no problem with Medised at all, so maybe its something specific to Piriton that hyped DD. We were wary of double dosing her so waited c. 6 hours before giving it to her - a hard wait with her bouncing around.