Is it actually ok to keep giving calpol?

[HeadFairy]

ds is going through one of those phases and it's been one thing after another, teething, nasty cold, conjunctivitis. Today it's all three. I seem to be giving him calpol most days, is this ok or am I doing him terrible harm? It did seem preferable to letting him suffer, but maybe I'm damaging his little kidneys.

Its OK as long as you don't exceed the recommended dose and number of times given in 24 hours.

We've had times like that too, miserable isn't it? I have been told by several different doctors that it is OK, as long as you don't exceed the dose as emma says. If I get worried about it, I give a smaller dose than recommended or give a placebo to give my DS a bit of a break, eg I have been known to give him a small teaspoon of honey instead and tell him it will make him feel better. (only obviously if he's not that ill, eg not a raging temperature)

probably not doing any harm but if it's not a high fever I would lay off it

the fever might help to get rid of what ails him

Don't exceed the dose, and perhaps use baby ibuprofen instead sometimes.

snowleopard, ds is only 8 months so I can't give him honey, but that's a good idea about the placebo. I could just give him a bit of sugary water in the syringe I use. I haven't exceeded the dose and I try and give it to him only at bedtime so he can sleep properly but I do feel like I'm giving it to him every day. I'll try baby ibuprofen poledra. Stuffitall, he's really only had a high ish fever (39) once, the rest of the time I've used it to ease the pain of his sore throat/teething/general miserableness.

Paracetamol ( calpol )is one of the safest meds to give at the normal dose. I would always prefer it to the ibuprofen-type stuff but these an be used in conjunction with the calpol.
Kidneys are not affected by calpol in normal doses. Only large overdoses risk kidney failure and also liver failure.

thanks madcol

I read somewhere though that it's a myth about a fever getting rid of the ailment, apparently it has to be a really dangerously high temp to do that and would do more harm than good, so bringing down temp is best.

You must go with what you think is right.

I agree that you must do what you think is right - but it's a good idea to check that you haven't got into a "calpol" habit. Stop and thing - does he really need calpol, or woud a cuddle, a warm bath or a Tellytubbies videa work just as well?

I did worry about that seeker, it did almost become part of the bed time routine, bath, pjs, calpol, boob and bed! I have tried to make sure it's not every day, but the past few days he's been in such a state. He's almost hysterical when I come near him with the brolene for his conjunctivitis and this afternoon he was a drooling snotty tearful mess which is so unlike him, he's normally such a happy boy

And under those circumstances, the answer to the question is "yes he does need calpol'!