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Original poster

please confess your misuse of medised stories here: i need to know i'm not the only one

101 replies

Tutter · 27/12/2007 16:33

have given it to ds2 for the last 10ish days (one dose, at bedtime)

he started off snotty so i was using it for its decongestant properties

for the last few nights i have to admit i've continued, not because he's terribly bunged up any more, but because it gives me 3 or 4 hours sleep (he is a dreadful sleeper)

i won't give it tonight, as i have to stop before it becomes an addiction

anyone else prepared to admit using it for a break? how long for?

OP posts:
CorrieDale · 27/12/2007 18:52

I'm slightly surprised by that advice from the pharmacist. If the child isn't coughing, then he isn't coughing, and one dose of Medised at night to clear the nasal passages isn't going to stop the cough from coming, surely? I mean, it's an antihistamine, not a cough suppressant.

InnAFull · 27/12/2007 18:59

i do understand, Tutter. Have too gone the tsp of brandy route a few times when small DDs had ear infections and were in a lot of pain through the night. My mum said she used to does me and my sis up on Gripe Water, the dear thing didn't realise it had an alcohol base! (no-one did in those days I think.)

Never tried Medised, what's in it? wonders about it for the odd night for 18 yr old DD2 who occasionally wanders at 2am distraught from a sleepless night

InnAFull · 27/12/2007 19:00

oops, does = DOSE. and I see it is an anti-histamine, must read more carefully.

FlamesparodyOfAChristmasName · 27/12/2007 19:08

Yup, been there, done that - I actually made friends with an MNer on a similar thread

I have found I can't use it for sleeping properties more than one night in a row or DD gets nightmares (she used to bounce with it as a child so I assume it is all related).

My mum used to give us "Yellow actifed" (not expectorant, don't think it was linctus either, another one...) - I remember having it every Christmas Eve!

Astrophe · 27/12/2007 19:14

A friend of mine is a GP, and gives her DS medised every night. Every single night. I find it rather horrifying, and I'm sure the child has a psychological addiction, if not a physical one. But she seems to think its fine. Her DS is 4.

I have given my DC medised, sometimes every night for a week, but usually just the odd night either for a cold, or because their sleep has been particularly bad and I am losing the plot and need some sleep to function.

lulalullabye · 27/12/2007 19:14

Hey, I totally understand the medised thing, but just succesfully weaned her off the drugs and she is now sleeping after three night of no sleep due to addiction I think. I also think it affects children in different ways, for some it knocks them out and for some does nothing. I won't be using it again, nut I understand. I think your dc is the same age as mine tutter.

Astrophe · 27/12/2007 19:16

for coughs, we give a teaspoon of honey. It seems to help as much as anything else, and of course the kids love it and it calms them down if they are upset. Also, wet towel on the radiator to steam up the room a bit helps.

TrinityTheRedNosedRhino · 27/12/2007 19:19

I have userd it to clear the nose so my baby can bf and my toddler can thumb suck.....................................and it makes no sodding difference to their sleep AT ALL

Wallace · 27/12/2007 19:27

Makes my ds2 hyper

littlerach · 27/12/2007 19:30

My GP recommended it for dd1 a couple of times. Worked fantastically.

It maeks dd2 vomit. So no effect on her. And she is the non sleeper int he house.

Celery · 27/12/2007 19:31

I glug on it myself regularly to get me to sleep. knocks me right out every time.

FluffyMummy123 · 27/12/2007 19:31

Message withdrawn

Cocobear · 27/12/2007 20:52

DD won't sleep now but have no Medised in house to try. She is grabbing rather desperately for my copy of the Economist. Do you reckon it's just a soporific to chew on as it is to read??

fizzbuzz · 27/12/2007 20:54

When my ds was little (he's 14 now ). He went through bad patch of sleeping.

Doc told me to buy phenergan syrup (which is the same stuff as in medised) and give it to break a pattern (about 3 weeks). She told me to buy it over the counter....

For all adult medised junkies on here, buy phenergan tablets instead....they are much much cheaper.

So, I did do it on (old) medical advice, have every sympathy for you Unfortunately it has no sedative effect on dd 18 months old....

imdreamingofawhiteKITTYmas · 27/12/2007 20:57

I gave my two some tonight as they have been snot monsters today.

DD1 is out cold (as usual)

DD2 is singing twinkle twinkle at the top of her voice (she is nearly 2) and went to bed at 8pm!

madamez · 27/12/2007 21:00

Well my mother used to give me phenergan (v similar stuff) on Xmas eve and on the night before holidays, etc, to make sure I would go to sleep. I don;t think it's too bad to give it to a DC with a cold as it is a decongestant, and it does help to get some decent sleep when you have a cold.

fizzbuzz · 27/12/2007 21:01

Notice Calpol have jumped on this bandwagon with Calpol Night

luckylady74 · 27/12/2007 21:01

every time i read 'just curious' it makes me irritated because usually, as in this case, the op has admitted their behaviour is questionable and are looking for support - not with continuing the behaviour though - 'just' support.

meep · 27/12/2007 21:02

I was giving dd Medised for sore throat and dutifully took her to GP after three days - GP told me that the reason they say 3 days is in case the Medised is masking something that a doctor would spot.DD is back on it again for rampaging snot attack - she's on the mend but after reading about Medised "addiction" am thinking of not giving any more after her last feed but she still has horrid cough

ceebee74 · 27/12/2007 21:04

We seriously considered giving it to DS (17mo) on Christmas Day night as MIL was staying and I couldn't face her jumping out of bed and sticking her nose in if he woke in the middle of the night - and DS is a great sleeper most of the time but we thought about using it just as a guarantee...as it was, he had consistently slept through for the last few nights so we decided to risk it, and he slept through again that night.

fizzbuzz · 27/12/2007 21:05

Can they get addicted to it? It's only an anti-histamine

LyraSilvertinsel · 27/12/2007 21:31

I gave Medised to DS1 once when I was out of my mind with exhaustion (he was 3, DS2 a newborn) and he was refusing his nap after lunch. The only thing that had kept me going that morning was the thought of having a rest while he napped so I gave him a spoonful and it knocked him out. I wasn't proud of it but I felt I had no choice at the time. I didn't do it again (DS1 was groggy all afternoon).

LyndaG · 27/12/2007 22:07

Interesting reading ladies I gave some to my DD on Chrimbo eve (6months) and Christmas Day...

She has had very bad broken sleep since 2 weeks before her bottom teeth came through....

After nights of getting up every hour to cuddle her to resettle, not hungry as resettles with a cuddle and refuses milk....

Last night we had an hour plus drive back from family and got her out of the car whilst asleep and she managed to stay asleep and sleep through

Tonight we tried to put her down at 7:30pm and had bedtime battles till about 9pm when she finally dropped off...so far she has cried once but it was in her sleep...

I think the sleeping threw her good sleep pattern out and lack of sleep for me was becoming a problem so I used it as pain relief for her teething and sedative to sleep and get back into habit of sleeping through...

Fingers crossed...

I think you have to do what you have to do...I would probably give 3 or 4 doses once a night to get them off to sleep then have a break...but at the end of the day you have to do what works for you.

Nemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 27/12/2007 22:14

I have used medised a few times although it is always due to colds,coughs,teething etc which is a endless circle in this house. However if it is more than 3/4nights then I will not use it as I dont like the feeling I am sedating the dc. Also to be honest it doesnt work as a sedative on dd1 and she will still wake numerous times a night[although touch wood this week she has slept through 4 out of 7 nights!!! and she is 2]

Shannaratinsel · 27/12/2007 22:26

I use medised with DD (4) and DS (1) when they have a cold, works great. If the problem is with sleeping have occasionly used phenegan as is in the cupboard for preventing DD's travel sickness, works great by the way.