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Original poster

Why has Medised changed from being for 3 months plus to over 2 years?

14 replies

Goodomen · 26/01/2009 18:29

My 12 Month old has a bad cold - high temperature, blocked sore nose etc. I have previously given Medised to my older child in similar situations and I am sure the info said 3 months plus.
Does anyone have any idea why this has changed?
Thanks.

OP posts:
AmIOdetteOrOdileOrABagpipe · 26/01/2009 18:30

There was a thread on this recently IIRC - probably worth doing a search.

mummyplonk · 26/01/2009 18:31

not 100% sure but DS1 when about 9 months had a bad reaction to it which brought on astmah, was advised as it has some kind of anti-hystemine (ex spell)by NHS direct to keep him clear of it as can bring on breathing problems if there are any lurking.

LadyOfWaffle · 26/01/2009 18:31

Sure you're not confusing it with Calpol? Thats 3m+ and for temps etc.

Mum1369 · 26/01/2009 18:33

I heard it was because some people (who didn't read the back properly) were giving it in addition to calpol, which you can't do. Also heard that some people were giving it to their children to make them sleep (?!)
Not sure what the real reason is though ! I was told unofficially that I could give it to my son - who is 16mnths.

popsycal · 26/01/2009 18:34

changed about a year ago

SlightlyMadScotland · 26/01/2009 18:37

It has been changed because that is what the regulatory agency has decided.

The decision is (as I understand it) based upon the following

  1. Potential for overdose of paracetamol if given with other medications
  2. Potential for overdose with anti-histamine if given with other cough medicines - even if they do not contain the same activie ingrediant
  3. Potential for overdose of either due to inaccurate dosing because of the variability in baby size (I think the margin for error is less for the anti-histamine that the paracetamol which is why Calpol is still OK).
  4. Potential mis-use of the sedating effect of the anti-histamine
  5. The anti-histamine didn't actually do a great deal in the doses given so not erally any proven efficacy over paracetamol and inhaled eucolyptus based products (e.g. Karvol...) which are safer
Original poster
Goodomen · 26/01/2009 18:38

mummyplonk that is shocking if that is true as i definately gave it to ds before he was two and he has had asthmatic episodes.
ladyofwaffle I am not confusing it as I have used it before.
Mum1369
popsycal - I haven't bought any for atleast 18 months so that's why I haven't noticed before.

OP posts:
pavlovthecat · 26/01/2009 18:38

It changed to stop irresponsible parents from using it to drug their children to sleep for convenience.

SlightlyMadScotland · 26/01/2009 18:40

Anti-histamines should help with breathing problems - although not necessarily in the doses in medi-sed.

Ibuprofen (Nurofen, Calprofen etc.) can exacerbate asthma.

littleboyblue · 26/01/2009 18:48

I heard that there were lots of parents out there using it to 'sedate' their dc's and that there is an increased risk of overdosing.
My ds is 17m and I haven't stopped using it, I do have to lie at the chemist though because they won't sell it to me if i say he's under 2 so tell them it's for my child at nursery.

Surely it's perfectly safe if you are responsible with it. The way I see it is that I would never give my ds a dose of any medicine without reading the label, so not going to OD on it
Also if you're giving the stated dosage then you aren't using it as a sedative.
I'm sure it still says 3 months on the box though doesn't it?

Original poster
Goodomen · 26/01/2009 18:57

littleboyblue It says over 2 on the box now.

Being a person who errs on the side of caution I will not give it to dd even if it is probably safe to do so.

SlightlyMadScotland and Pavlovthecat thanks for the information.
I am shocked that parents would use it to sedate their children. That is horrible.

OP posts:
littleboyblue · 26/01/2009 19:01

Fair enough Goodomen. Wasn't suggesting anyone should go against advise on these things as warnings are put in place for a reason.
They've changed the box very recently then as wasn't long ago I bought the one we are currently on (or rather that is open)

lisad123 · 26/01/2009 19:02

i used it with dd1, for some reason capol never did much for her temp.
DD2 has it if run out of capol, shes 17months, but to be honest i find neruofen works best for us.
Yes I know some parents would use it to get kids to sleep as it does make them sleepy! shocked by that tbh!

newpup · 26/01/2009 19:13

There was an article in the press that suggested it had been changed as health care professionals were concerned by the number of parents using it as a sedative in babies. I have no idea if this is true but I do know parents who did this with babies who were hard to settle

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