Too much paracetamol - am I starting a bad habit ?

[Tillysmummy]

The 3 of us have had a cold now for almost a month (particularly nasty) and all of us are on anitbiotics, I thought i'd got rid of mine and seem to have caught it back.

Anyway, dd has a cold and also big toothie problems. I realised yesterday that I have given her a 5ml spoon of dozol (like calpol but with antihisthamine and makes them drowsy) every night for about 2 weeks. I got really worried that she is now becoming dependent on it so have stopped and didn't give her any last night. I normally give it to her if she wakes in the night because she has woken a lot with very burny hot swollen cheeks. However I really thought about it yesterday and decided it had become habit. I know they say on the box that if symptoms persist consult your doctor etc, etc and I am assuming that means that you shouldn't give the maximum dosage for more than a few days but because she was only having one spoon I guess I thought it was ok.

Now I feel guilty, have I harmed her by giving it to her for that period of time or made her a paracetamol junkie
It seems that she has a few weeks of being fine and needing nothing but the last month she's had 4 molars coming through and so I felt has needed something to help her with the pain, especially at night.

Any advice ?

I would be more worried about giving children antibiotics. A cold is a virus, which doesn't respond to antibiotics. Full stop. Why on earth did your doctor prescribe them???

FWIW we're the same right now, all down with colds, really heavy ones that oce shaken off seem to mutate before being passed right back again. This morning we had a dawn chorus of coughing. Better off with hot blackcurrent than drugs I'm sure!

Hi Tillysmummy, I remember going through the exact same thing with ds when he was teething. I also gave him calpol quite alot and also read the garb on the box and immediately rang my HV 'cos I got worried that I was giving him too much! She said it was fine, as long as he didn't have over the recommended dose. I don't think you could make your dd a paracetamol junkie, I've never heard of that one before.. but rest assured, the teething thing will get better very soon! Perhaps if you are worried about the dozol making her dependant on it to get to sleep, try just plain Calpol instead for her teeth? I know loads of people swear that Calpol makes them sleepy, but it never did for my ds! Also that teething gel stuff is good, as are the granules so you could give them a try too.
Good luck and must agree that the antibiotics are abit of a waste of time. Horrid to hear that I know as you want to be taking something to make you better! The only meds I've found good for ds's colds were Medised ( which also contains paracetamol, and Benylin night time cough mixture)
Hope you all get better soon,
Jessi

I'm sure you are not causing any harm with the single paracetamol each day, but if you are concerned why not try more natural remedies.

You can get old fashioned teething powders from many chemists and health food shops (can't remember the brand name I'm afraid).

For youself try echinachea for the cold, dh and I swear by it. Tastes disgusting but does the job. I know you can get it in 'junior' versions but not sure what the lower age limit is so this one probably wont be suitable for dd

I spoke to my doctor about this today as dd is having broken nights (teething? a cold?) and he said that he's a big fan of giving paracetamol to help little ones cope with pain. He was a paedetrician in a hospital before going into general practice so he knows his stuff.

Antibiotics will help a cough or chest infection, or a sinus infection, but not a cold. My doctor generally gives antibiotics after a week, if the snot is thick and green. He is very strict about giving out antibiotics, and if your dd has green snot then she probably will benefit. You can get probiotics for infants made by Solgar to put back the friendly bacteria, and give dd lots of yoghurt. Also, you could burn lavender oil or lavender mixed with eucalyptus oil to help shift the cold and help stop re-infection - the lavender will also aid sleep.

Thanks so much for your advice ladies. To answer your questions, dd has had the cold for almost three weeks now and that's why he prescribed antibiotics because her snot was very thick and green, same for me. Although he said her chest was clear he said that he thought it was probably a sinus viral infection.

Re the teething I didn't give her Dozol last night. I think that if I only give it to her when I think she definitely needs it then it should be ok hopefully. I know I am probably overreacting worrying that I am making her dependent but it does cross my mind. She has Calgel and also the homeopathic teetha granules which she loves.

Any other suggestions ? Ionesmum, that's interesting what your doc said.

While we're on teeth - any opinions on which are the worst ? We've had 4 molars which have been pretty bad - is that as bad as it gets or can I expect worse ?

My dh (a GP) suggests baby nurofen (ibuprofen) for teething pain rather than calpol. It has an anti-inflammatory action as well as a painkilling action so will help to releive the pressure on the sore teeth which will be adding to the pain. You have to remember though to give it in much smaller doses less frequently then calpol, read the box for details!

Am very interested in this Dozol - have never heard of this. Is it available over the counter? In fact, can never understand why there are non-drowsy medicines for kids at all. (I'm sure there is a very good reason but...)

Re paracetamol addiction - I do remember reading an article about kids being addicted to Calpol. The withdrawal effct gives a headache hence parents give more Calpol, and it goes on and on. Don't think this would apply to you Tillysmummy since presume your daughter isn't saying she has a headache.