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Original poster

Why are there sugar and sugar free medicines?

46 replies

Twinmummyx2 · 31/05/2007 14:44

After purchasing calpol last night, and the chemist lady asking which one i wanted (which was sugar free of course) i was wondering if there was any medical reason as to why they make them both?? Most people would choose the sugar free anyway wouldn't they?

All my ill children are bored so having me time on MN and thinking aloud...

me

OP posts:
Original poster
Twinmummyx2 · 31/05/2007 14:45

..what i meant was all my ill children are sleeping and iam bored.....i wouldn;t be bored if they were awake..and they wouldn;t be bored as they would be too busy moaning...bless!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 31/05/2007 14:46

Why sugar free "of course"??

It all depends which you think is worse - natural sugar or chemical sweeteners.

flamingtoaster · 31/05/2007 14:46

Some children react badly to artificial sweeteners so for them the version with sugar would be better. Also there is continuing debate about the effects of artificial sweeteners so some parents would avoid them for that reason.

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SoupDragon · 31/05/2007 14:46

If given the choice, I would choose sugar all the time.

redtoenails · 31/05/2007 14:47

sugar is a natural painkiller, many artificial sweetners are beleived by some to be carcinogenic!

UnquietDad · 31/05/2007 14:47

Isn't it possible to buy them with neither?

Original poster
Twinmummyx2 · 31/05/2007 14:49

See, i knew some people on here would no the answer, i had no idea that there was a continuing debate about them..i just assumed no sugar would be best!

But there you go, you learn something new everyday!!!

Will have to research now!

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wheresthehamster · 31/05/2007 14:50

Yes, why does calpol have to have a 'sweet' taste?

If your child really, really wouldn't take it unsweetened then I'm sure we're all capable of mixing it with some sugar ourselves.

Good point UnquietDad.

redtoenails · 31/05/2007 14:51

not a major problem with medicine as you have relatively little but sugar free drinks and sweets aimed at children are more problematic.

UnquietDad · 31/05/2007 14:51

It was a genuine question, to which I suspect the answer is NO!

nailpolish · 31/05/2007 14:51

i think you can buy them without either - like disprin etc - but they taste mingin and therefore would be difficult to coax a child to take them

redtoenails · 31/05/2007 14:52

I suspect calpol and others would be completely unpalatable without some additions

redtoenails · 31/05/2007 14:52

x post nail polish
sorry

nailpolish · 31/05/2007 14:52

i buy disprin (disovling aspirin) and soluble paracetamol and dissolve it in juice

i find calpol daylight robbery tbh

nailpolish · 31/05/2007 14:53

no need to be sorry!

redtoenails · 31/05/2007 14:53

never considered it before but i presume they contain colours also!

UnquietDad · 31/05/2007 14:55

When was Calpol invented? I was a child in the 70s and I don't remember having it. Always disprin in water for me. And yes, it did taste minging!

nailpolish · 31/05/2007 14:56

it must have been invented for those softie southern yuppies

medised too - i ahve NEVER seen that in the shops round these parts

Original poster
Twinmummyx2 · 31/05/2007 14:57

Yes i remember the disprin days too, it was minging, tried to drink it in 2 gulps and then tons of juice to wash it down...

I am going to buy some and mix it with pure orange juice and see if my children make the face.

OP posts:
redtoenails · 31/05/2007 14:57

we must have been super tough, I can't remember having anything

nailpolish · 31/05/2007 14:58

lol @ "the face"

Original poster
Twinmummyx2 · 31/05/2007 14:58

I bought medised last night too for the older children, its says 6+ on the box and when you read the dosage on the bottle is says from 1 year

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LazyLine · 31/05/2007 14:59

There was an article recently, can't remember where, possibly the Torygraph. It was about the hideous amount of additives and e-numbers in medicine that would never be allowed in food. It seems as if they are allowed in medicines as "children don't have them very often"....

I believe the Calpol was the worst.

MrsCurrant · 31/05/2007 15:01

Have you ever had a non coated paracetomol stick in your throat?

That bitter taste is foul, and I would choose sugar every time over sweetener. They hardly have calpol often enough to worry about it but I usually buy the chemists own

MrsCurrant · 31/05/2007 15:03

calpol being a complete rip-off like someone said...