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Original poster

Calpol - dangerous?

27 replies

PrettyCandles · 31/03/2008 20:30

My dad just told me something about paracetamol being dangerous for the under-2s, and that it shouldn't be available now without asking for it at the pharmacy.

Is this so?

Or are we a million years behind the times and everyone knew about this ages ago?

OP posts:
fakeblonde · 31/03/2008 20:34

Its recent-its just not available so easily but you can still buy it.

Fullmoonfiend · 31/03/2008 20:35

it was in the news a couple of days ago. @they' are worried about accidental overdoses
story here

Tis a precautionary action, don't worry.

nannyL · 31/03/2008 20:35

no

he is talking about all the cough medicines that were pulled off the shelves to be relabeled

calpol is NOT one of them!

was having a big conversation about all this with my DB who is a GP who pointed out that unless given to very ver oung children most of the medicines recalled arnt actually dangerouse either

avenanap · 31/03/2008 20:35

I don't think it was calpol, it was cough medicine because parents have started to overdose their children.

jojosmaman · 31/03/2008 20:42

I have just looked through the list and did I understand it right, it was just the top ones that have been removed and the ones below (including medised and calcold) can still be give to under 2's?

Original poster
PrettyCandles · 31/03/2008 20:42

Thanks for that.

OP posts:
kama · 31/03/2008 20:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

crimplene · 31/03/2008 22:25

It turns DS into a hyperactive lunatic, but that's the outrageous combo of sodium benzoate and azo dye they put in it.

SlightlyMadSweet · 31/03/2008 22:31

Jojo.

The ones on the top list are still available from a pharmacist for over 2s.

The ones from the bottom are being removed from teh shelves pending relabelling as suitable for over 2s.

Basically there will be no (chesty?) cough medicines for under 2s any longer.

fledtoscotland · 31/03/2008 22:36

the DOH website makes it all clear. there have been 5 deaths in the last 30yrs that may be linked to accidental Overdoses in under 2's where medicine containing more than one ingredient has been involved. so they have withdrawn the license for any meds for under twos that have a combination of active ingredients. its not they arent safe but its to avoid a child taking too much of something ie antihistamines are in calpol night and some cough mixtures so a lo could be given too much accidentally.

calpol night and medised have been relabeled for 2yrs+ as they have two active ingredients.

hope this makes sense

SlightlyMadSweet · 31/03/2008 22:41

It isn't just the ones with 2 active ingrediants.

It is all cough medicines which contain any pharmaceutically active ingrediant.

Glycerol syrups (for tickly coughs) I think are excluded as glycerol doesn't count as a pharmaceutically active ingrediant as it just coats windpipe.

Pavlovthecat · 31/03/2008 22:46

Its very interesting. I have just returned from USA where DD aged 21 months had a horrid virus with a cough, I tried to buy medised which I have used for her before, and was told by BIL they dont do cough medicine for under two in USA at all, this was couple weeks ago, and I was surprised, as I had not read this report, so (not believing him) went pharmacist and he said the same thing. I also struggled to get any under 2yo medicine, including tylenol/ibruprofen, but luckily had some with me from UK, not sure if pharmacist meant no medicine under two, but certainly not cough medicine.

So, in US, already common practice.

fledtoscotland · 31/03/2008 22:47

this is the link www.mhra.gov.uk/NewsCentre/Pressreleases/CON014446

tbh i didnt know any cough mixtures apart from glyerol were suitable for under 2's

SlightlyMadSweet · 31/03/2008 22:48

How was your DD in the end Pavlov?

Pavlovthecat · 31/03/2008 22:49

its precautionary, not harmful if used correctly? just wondered as DD had some for a few days couple weeks ago and have used it on a sort of regular basis, for teething coughs she sometimes gets.

SlightlyMadSweet · 31/03/2008 22:49

Yup....there are going to be a few people round here that are disappointed by teh withdrawal of medised for under 2s....

fledtoscotland · 31/03/2008 22:51

slightly mad - why do you say that?

Pavlovthecat · 31/03/2008 22:52

DD was really quite poorly for a while, she had awful awful throat virus, second time. Had a huge ulcur on her throat which stopped her eating for over a week, and sky high temperatures for ages. Eventually went into her sinus' (s?), given antibiotics and within two days much better, within 4, back to her normal self. thanks for asking SlightlyMadSweet currently jetlagged and wont sleep .

southeastastra · 31/03/2008 22:53

i never used it

SlightlyMadSweet · 31/03/2008 22:54

Pavlov the licenses for use under 2s are beng revoked.

This means that the medicine companies will be obliged to say "not suitable for under 2s". They will not be able to give dosage instructions.

There is nothing to stop you buying it (telling pharmacist it is for a 4yo) and giving it to your 18m old if you really really want to, but there will be no comebacks on teh drugs companies as you have gone against their dosage instructions.

TBH I have never used cough medicines, and disagree strongly with the way in which many people use the side effects of medised to sedate/induce sleep.

On that basis I have no problem with the new dosing instructions.

SlightlyMadSweet · 31/03/2008 22:55

FledtoScotland

Because medised is comly used to sedate/induce sleep because that is one if its side effects.

southeastastra · 31/03/2008 22:56

whem i was little though we were given kaolin and morphine

southeastastra · 31/03/2008 22:57

lol it hasn't affected me in the slightest

fledtoscotland · 31/03/2008 23:00

totally agree with you slightlymad - even when DS was very ill we never used cough mixtures (TBH i didnt realize you could give them to under 2's for that reason). DS has had medised to help his breathing (on GPs advice) but it didnt appear to have any sedating effect at all and he cant have calpol night because he is allergic to the flavouring.

i also think the new prescription licensing is a good idea and we should be encouraging the use of more tradition cold remedies such as menthol crystals

Pavlovthecat · 31/03/2008 23:03

SMS - I have no problems not using it tbh, as DDs teeth are pretty much all through, it was recommended, and used when needed, but can live without it. I just wanted to make sure that previous use would not harm DD!! I did not actually find the sedative properties worked, if she was not tired and we gave it to her, she was grouchy as hell, it only worked if she was already sleepy and struggled to sleep easily due to coughing so only ever used at night time.

I stopped using it so often once DD got croup last year. We had given it to her a few times, the GP had diagnosed a virus, he then said after a few days it was croup, and recommended we stop using it, he reminded me of the sedative properties and said that her sleeping deeply was not good as she needed her strength to breath.

Also GP said that its no good if there is mucus to bring up as it suppresses coughing.

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