Antibiotics for babies

[bumpertobumper]

DS2, 5months, is on penicillin for tonsilitis. I was reluctant to put him on it for obvious reasons, but he was not getting better without.

There are two things i would like to hear thoughts on please -
Why is it bright orange?! The list for possible side effects is longer for the colourings than the medicine itself. Contains E124 and E110 - both of which have been banned from soft drinks by the Food Standards Agency . Would it be unreasonable to ask my GP/pharmicist for a different preparation of the medicine without these colourings? Any chance of the power of MN swinging into action to get the manufacturers to stop using them?

And secondly, I know the doctors always say finish the course, but the antibiotics seem to be giving DS2 an upset tummy (due in part i suspect to the above) - can i stop half way through the course or is that foolish?

(DS1 and I are lucky and so I am rather unfamiliar with antibs in general).

It feels to wrong to push this disgusting orange flavoured and coloured liquid into my sons mouth 4 times a day when up to this point all he has had is my milk and some water.
Thanks for any advice/thoughts/support...

def dont finish half way through and do complete the course

Im sure lots of people think its very pfb to worry about those additives but I personaly agree with you and wouldnt want to give those things to my baby either.

same as it makes me cross that calpol and similar have nasty sweeteners in.... id much rather give my child sugar then chemical sweeteners, yet they are not readily avaliable anymore

As much as you don't want to give the antibiotics you must finish the course, otherwise the 'half dead' infection will develop a resistance and become stronger. It needs killing off completely.

please make sure you finish the course as Pleiades said otherwise you will develop resistance.
I did not realise antib's had E numbers in but am pretty sure you will not find a different preparation although it would do no harm to ask the pharmacist.
Anti'b's can cause a dodgy tum sometimes, this is because they kill all the horrible bacteria causing the illness but also kill the good bacteria in the gut, breastfeeding is great at replenishing the good bacteria and there there are also pre and pro-biotics supplements which can help replenish the good bacteria.

I totally understand yor reluctance to give such a horrible looking liquid to your LO but don't look at it as a 'disgusting liquid' and more medicine that WILL make you son better.

hope he recovers quickly

Thanks everyone, i will finish the course and get probiotics.
terrible nappy rash now from all the pooing but the throat is definately better.

DS1 always got nappy rash when on antibiotics I found that using a combination of creams always worked best at times like these. Kamillosan and bepanthenen (spelling?).