Paracetamol suppositories for toddlers and young children

[AWanderingMinstrel]

I had my children in Europe. There it is normal to give children paracetamol via suppositories as it doesn’t upset their stomach, it is absorbed quicker and you always know the dose and it’s not spat out etc. I was surprised to find you cannot buy these over the counter in the Uk- does anyone know why- - is this cultural? Not as acceptable??

Yes this is definitely a UK/much of the rest of Europe divide. Shame really as so many people struggle to get Calpol into young kids and it’s a big and horrible ordeal when a paracetamol suppository is done in seconds. It’s just a method of delivering medication (and for kids often far less traumatic than horrible-tasting medicine being forced down them!). My friend was really surprised she couldn’t get it here as easily.

DD had them in hospital, like a few PPs. She was always fine with calpol at home so I didn’t worry about alternatives, but I’d have no problem with suppositories if needed.

Yes. Because the syringe would hurt and they would fight it. They do not even notice suppositories, trust me, I've given enough of them.

I used to give my toddler the choice between oral medicine or a suppository.
He always chose 'bum medicine'.

I discovered them when a nurse gave up trying to get oral meds into him, and gave him one.

He was born in 2010, and I definitely bought them OTC. I know I'm remembering correctly, as they were really expensive compared to Calpol/Pound shop version.

I found this strange too when I lived in England for a few years - we use suppositories widely here in Ireland and they’re so handy for managing sick infants and toddlers. When I blithely asked for a box in our local pharmacy in Cornwall the assistant disappeared into the back for a good few minutes and eventually emerged with a dusty box which were some outrageous price - but I still bought them! DD would never take Calpol or liquid Ibuprofen by mouth and it would have been awful to see her unwell and not be able to help.

I think in some countries (France?) you can get lots of medication, including antibiotics, in suppository form.

Suppositories are not a standard cultural expectation here. My only encounter in my life was after the birth of my first child (in a UK hospital) when I needed a few stitches and the Danish midwife said “I’ll just give you a painkiller” but it didn’t occur to her to mention that she was about to administer said painkiller as a suppository! Even in the context of the indignities of childbirth I was a bit WTF about the lack of prior warning.

Weird. It's not standard in Scandinavian to administer paracetamol as a suppository for adults.

Your perogative of course but I'd pick the suppository over watching my child battle febrile seizures because their temperature is completely uncontrollable and they won't tolerate paracetamol orally.

I’m in Europe too. Suppositories are amazing for kids. No vomitting it back up. Absorbed really quickly. I’m not sure what people are imaging but they are really small.

umm no… what about children given glycerine suppositories for awful constipation? I really don’t understand why this world is so perverted to think that medicines are used for sexual purposes.

DH said he was given them as a child by his European mum, I thought it was grim tbh. Obviously if you're ill enough to be in hospital it's a different matter.

I think you need the s supervision of a pharmacist and it can be bought OTC in that way.

Shaking my head at some of the OTT responses to a perfectly normal way of administering medication. Especially to infants or patients prone to vomiting.

What do you all think of pessaries I wonder…

It’s a cultural difference. It’s a real shame we are so backward regarding them in the UK.

Medically it is a much more efficient route of administering medicine

It is normal practice in UK to give diclofenac suppositories after birth especially post sutures etc.

They give them in hospital and GPs will happily prescribe them for calpol refusers

my son has IBD and needs enemas and suppositories for treatment. I suppose you think that the consultant prescribing those is some sort of sick perve?

you’re pathetic.

I agree it’s a really bizarre hang up that we have in the UK. They’re ideal if you have a child who refuses medicine and far less stressful for all involved, including the child. I’ve had several as an adult as part of IVF/ELCs and they seem very efficient to me especially as they can give it to you before you’d be able to take any pills.

I can’t believe it’s still a big deal in UK. Standard product in Ireland when my DS was small nearly 20 years ago but I remember getting very funny looks in a UK pharmacy when I tried to buy them when on holiday and I hadn’t brought a supply. Great way of bringing down a high temperature fast and no wrestling with a syringe and a wriggling toddler.

It was blamed on a Scandinavian midwife. It's not a Scandinavian habit.

Managed to get some once when my kids were vomiting and had banging headaches and high fever. They’re fantastic. Utterly mystified by people who think it’s sexual abuse. DH was also given them in hospital for kidney stones and it was miraculous - very fast pain relief.

Used very regularly as part of my DDs care.

much less distressing for her than liquid (and she cannot swallow tablets at all).

The over reaction by some is both hilarious and ridiculous. Clearly have never dealt with very long term pain relief for a young child.

I'm pretty sure I had some kind of suppository after giving birth. I can assure you it wasn't sexual.
Do people honestly think that there's something perverted about administering medication to a child? It's no worse than wiping their bum when changing a nappy.

We have Danish and Swedish friends, we’ve always thought how much better this method is.

@MyCottageGarden …you are the one that is weird! We got paracetamol suppositories prescribed for a grandchild who was a Calpol refuser ! Far less distressing than forcing medicine into their mouth!