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Sleep

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Original poster

What are the medications that make toddlers drowsy please?

31 replies

minipie · 02/01/2014 13:20

We have a long haul trip coming up with DD who will then be 16 months. She is a very spirited/active/loud/physical child who tends to fight sleep and get overtired easily.

Obviously I will be trying all the usual tricks (new toys, cartoons, snacks, night flight etc) to keep her happy and entertained and to try to get her to sleep as much as possible.

However I am considering taking some antihistamine or similar with me as a last resort in case she has a complete meltdown.

Please can anyone list the medications which have a drowsy effect and can be taken by a 16 month old? I know about Piriton (and its possible hyperactivity effect for some DC) but not sure what else there is out there.

I'd rather not get a lot of judgey "it's barbaric to drug your child" answers please, I just want the information. I know some people will have this view but nonetheless I think that in certain extreme circumstances a dose of medication could be the lesser of two evils, for her sake as well as everyone else's.

I'd be very grateful to know what is available. Thanks

OP posts:

HoneyDragon · 02/01/2014 13:28

If you are serious do you not thinking speaking to your GP a better course of action than randoms on the Internet?

BaronessBomburst · 02/01/2014 13:30

Lagoonablue · 02/01/2014 13:33

Opiates.

Seriously you shouldn't misuse medication like this. I know you don't want to hear this. OTC medicines have no drowsy effect. Ones that did have been withdrawn due to being misused. Piriton can make kids drowsy but not especially.

TheNightIsDark · 02/01/2014 13:35

Phenegan or something. DS had it after advice from dr when he was that age. Not for long trip though. It was to attempt to get him in some form of regular sleep pattern.

That dr has made some questionable decisions since though.

MrsCharlesBrandon · 02/01/2014 13:35

I would speak to the GP. They can suggest/prescribe something, but OTC medications suitable for toddlers don't exist any more.

picnicbasketcase · 02/01/2014 13:37

Can she not have some warm milk or something to settle her down?

ChunkyPickle · 02/01/2014 13:37

At 16 months there's almost nothing you can give them if they actually are ill, let alone just because you want them sleepy...

DS flew 16 hours at about that age, luckily we were still breastfeeding so I had an extra helping hand, but also, jelly sweets, books, cartoons on the in flight, ipad for familiar games, and a Nintendo DS (watching the demos and stabbing at buttons, not really playing) got us through just fine - although he barely slept at all because it was too exciting (and the flight attendants, although wonderful, would keep making a fuss of him so the last thing he wanted to do was sleep and miss the attention)

ContinentalKat · 02/01/2014 13:38

Ask around if anybody still has some medised at the back of their medicine cabinet...

Original poster

minipie · 02/01/2014 13:42

Thanks Lagoona, interesting to hear that they now don't have any effect. So do all the tales of people using medications on flights date from before the changes?

Yes HoneyDragon, of course I'll ask my GP, but wanted to gather what information I could in the meantime/in addition.

Any further information would be appreciated. Biscuits also welcome as long as they are the chocolate hobnob variety.

OP posts:

gamerchick · 02/01/2014 13:44

You can't anymore AFAIK. I could have cried when they took medised off the shelves. It was the only thing that made flu (for me) more comfortable.

It's due to people giving it to younglings to make them sleep.

You'll have to speak to your gp.

gamerchick · 02/01/2014 13:44

You can't anymore AFAIK. I could have cried when they took medised off the shelves. It was the only thing that made flu (for me) more comfortable.

It's due to people giving it to younglings to make them sleep.

You'll have to speak to your gp.

BaronessBomburst · 02/01/2014 13:47

[chocolate hobnob]

Original poster

minipie · 02/01/2014 13:51

Ah cross posted. Thanks for the further replies, I will look up Phenergan. And Medised, though I definitely wouldn't give her anything that's been withdrawn for her age.

Chunky that's reassuring, I think DD would probably be fine with various distractions too but am looking for something as a last resort just in case she's having one of her off days... Sadly BFing has never helped us on short haul flights in the past, in fact she has generally refused the boob when on a plane (too boring I think).

OP posts:

catdoctor · 02/01/2014 14:47

I flew alone with DS1 at a similar age albeit short haul - he was/is tricky re sleep but I found after all the excitement of the terminal that he was quite easy to get off to sleep by walking carrying him up and down the aisle - got some odd looks but at least he slept. I think I bored him to sleep.

TheNightIsDark · 02/01/2014 14:56

I miss the medised days. It's horrible watching ill children trying to sleep.

IsItMeOr · 02/01/2014 15:06

DS has never had any medication that made him drowsy - including piriton. He sounds quite like your DD sleepwise (although much better at night now he's 4.9).

An idea for a longhaul trip - maybe for a slightly older child though - was to wrap little toys up for them to open every hour or so. That way you always have a little something to distract them.

Good luck!

ilovepowerhoop · 02/01/2014 15:09

I dont think you can even get medised any more and it is now only for over 6years if you could get hold of it. Phenergan is likely to be prescription only and normally for over 2's

FuckyNell · 02/01/2014 15:10

I did cry when they took medised off the shelves

Juno77 · 02/01/2014 15:10

Wait, you can't buy medised anymore? WHAT?! Since when?

Another vote for Phenergan. I don't know if you can get it OTC but if it's used for morning sickness, allergies and insomnia so you could get it prescribed easily.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 02/01/2014 15:14

Medised is only advised for over 10's now (well, that's what our local pharmacy say anyway).

I have two teenagers who used to have Medised as toddlers, when they were poorly. I went in to ask for some for DD, as I had no idea the advice had changed. The assistant looked at me like I was suggesting giving my baby heroin .

So, no, nothing sleep-inducing for babies/toddlers. Sorry.

ilovepowerhoop · 02/01/2014 15:15

dozol is apparently similar to medised but again is for age 6+

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 02/01/2014 15:16

Just to add, not everywhere stocks Medised - but local Co-Op pharmacies seem to. You can still buy it over the counter (as opposed to having a prescription), but only if it's for a child over 10.

Original poster

minipie · 02/01/2014 15:20

Righto

So, no Medised, probably no Phenergan either as it looks like it's for over 2s only.

Just Piriton then and that may not really cause drowsiness any more, plus there is the hyperactivity risk (eek).

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 02/01/2014 15:21

p.s. the age change for over the counter cough medicines changed in 2009 and a lot were changed to a minimum age of 6 due to side effects on small children

www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/comms-po/documents/websiteresources/con038907.pdf - gives a list of products affected

gamerchick · 02/01/2014 15:22

I've tried to buy medised in many places up and down the country when we've been on various travels. That stuff is awesome. 'makes mental note to target coops '

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