medication available via suppository in mainland europe?

[Yorkiegirl]

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We have just researched antibiotics here in Denmark, as we are having such trouble getting 23mth ds to take them orally... much psych trauma for him, me and DH

But anti-bs are NOT available as suppositories - I guess only certain meds can be absorbed through the colon.

Ibuprofen can be better at bringing down a temperature than paracetamol.

Suppositories are rarely used here in the UK, especially for over the counter medicines. This is partly due to the British aversion to putting things up their bums, and is largely discouraged for children as insertion can cause rectal trauma if not done properly. This is the same reason that parents are not encouraged to take rectal temperatures of their children.

Sidge, sorry I disagree. It's easy peasy to do and I have never heard of rectal trauma from this ever. Ditto temperatures. You get much more accurate readings from rectal temperatures.

I am a bit at Anna's comments...

I think suppositories can be very very useful, esp. in small babies, and if done properly they don't notice them at all (have used them several times with sleeping baby, didn't even stir)

God and how I prefer paracetamol supps to the sticky horrible mess full of E numbers that is Calpol...

You are right tickle, I might have been wrong re the possibility of getting antibiotic suppositories...

Fairymum - I did write "can" in italics as it is possible to traumatise the rectum, especially in babies, if you are not careful. That's not to say that everyone who gives rectal supps or takes a rectal temperature will cause harm. But it can happen, I have seen it done (I am a nurse).

I agree that a rectal temperature is very accurate, and certainly more so than an axillary or forehead temp. But again it needs to be done very carefully as it is possible to perforate the rectum with a thermometer. Few parents are shown how to take a rectal temperature safely so it's rarely done these days.

Junior disporl can be taken from a few months i think. We used to put it in ds's bottle as he can't have calpol due to the additives etc. It can be 'hidden' in most drinks .... sorry if this has been suggested already - was rushing through the thread - i find soluble medicines are better than syrups as a drink is less out of the ordinary and kids are less likely to think it's medicine and resit it

Correction Sidge, it's rarely done in Britain these days. Still don't really understand how rectal suppositories can cause trauma. They are quite soft and just left in to dissolve.

Have to agree with Sidge's comments i'm afraid " can cause trauma if not careful" also these suppositoris are not soft made out of parafin and need to be firm to be able to insert.
I personally find it difficult for parents who use these on babies to claim, they don't mind and it doesn't cause them any discomfort..... how do we know!!

well - over here in Holland we have paracetamol suppositories for adults and children. I ca confirm that when you have a headache or a hangover they are brilliant and kick in super fast

Ok, so the children don't exactly like it in the begining, but my eldest now actually says that he wants one of the magic pills in his bottom, as he know it will make him feel better so much faster.

have never heard of a child having rectal trauma from it.

The ones we've had have been soft, like wax, and are fine with a little vaseline and are only about the size of a nurofen capsule. Agree the baby is rarely disturbed if asleep.

It's not the suppository that necesarily causes the trauma, but the finger used to insert it.

And yes, I stand corrected, I should have said "rarely done in Britain". I can't speak for overseas as I live in the UK.

Surely don't you just stop once the thing has disappeared. Just used to slip it in and hold until the muscle relaxed and retained it.

When I put a paracetemol suppository up dd's bum, I didn't shove my finger up her bum too. Ouch! Surely if you're shoving your finger up someone's bum you're doing something wrong!

Suppositories are pretty common for adults. What about piles pills? Medication for Crohns and colitis is through the bum sometimes too.

I think they make life so much easier, and if you're doing it right, the child will hardly notice.

Can you get suppository paracetemol in UK? I bought mine in Germany.

LOL exactly, you're not supposed to push your finger up there! But the point I'm trying to make is that not everyone is as careful/experienced/knowledgeable as you lot and trauma can occur.

I have nursed a woman who ended up with a colostomy due to rectal trauma from incorrect use of suppositories. Rare, but it does happen.

And incidentally I wish we had access to more rectal medications - some analgesia (eg Voltarol) is brilliant when given rectally, and giving paracetamol via suppository is so much easier than persuading a screaming poorly baby to swallow a few mls of liquid!

sorry yg for delay, only just come back here, will email you later!

Ds had surgery a few weeks ago and they give children a paracetamol suppositorie whilst still under GA.

I'm in the uk so they must be available.