Medised

[The Nappy Lady]

Just asked in my local pharmacy - it's not currently for sale, but is being 'reconfigured' & will be back

On the shelf from mid October.

It will not be a POM.

Molly

[nunheadmum]

Isn't Calpol Night the same? If Medised is off the shelves when needed. I'm sure we've used it with the same effect

[susyp]

With both of these - I am considering using them this winter in extreme cold/cough situations with my 4 1/2 year old - is that completely irresponsible - if i gave her a half dose? Am I right in thinking it's the sedative anti histamine that is the reason the age was raised to 6 years. She already has piriton fairly frequently (as in every 3/4 months perhaps) due to allergies. My reasoning is that often gets such bad coughs that she is up for night after night so I really think she needs something to help her sleep when she gets a cough like this?

Just mulling it over when I read this thread.

Susypx

[Pickle]

I'm not sure it would do anything to help a cough, other than maybe help her get to sleep. I find Medised is brilliant when they're really congested, it helps clear the nasal passages.

Not irresponsible at all in my opinion, as long as you are sensible about it.

[Fuschia]

A simple linctus is best for a cough, or a warm drink before bed. I think a hot bath is a good thing too, for coughs ND COLDS, also sleeping with the head elevated

[sillywoman]

Molly, at the risk of exposing massive ignorance; what's a 'POM'?

[Saffron]

At a guess: Prescription Only Medicine? (As opposed to OTC: Over the Counter, no prescription needed.)

[Saffron]

susyp Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> With both of these - I am considering using them

> this winter in extreme cold/cough situations with

> my 4 1/2 year old - is that completely

> irresponsible - if i gave her a half dose? Am I

> right in thinking it's the sedative anti histamine

> that is the reason the age was raised to 6 years.

I think there were multiple reasons for raising the age. One of the main reasons seems to be the occurence of paracetamol overdose. It's been known for a while that acute paracetamol OD is highly toxic and potentially life-threatening. However, it's also come to light in more recent research that even overly frequent use is associated with some potentially very serious problems.

There is also research disputing the sedative effects of the antihistamine (diphenhydramine) at therapeutic doses as an antihistamine. While the anitihistamine may indeed cause drowsiness, it does not reduce night time wakings. (I think I posted the link to the data on the other thread about Medised.)

Antihistamines are really for congestion, not cough. If the cough is caused by fluid from the sinus draining into the upper airways when the child is sleeping, then elevating the head of the bead will help with proper fluid drainage and circulation.

If your child is prone to cough or has a history of chest infections, her airways may be hypersensitive. If cough is very bad or persistant, you'd really do best to pursue it with a sympathetic GP. Opioids like codeine are excellent at suppressing cough and inducing sleep. However, you really cannot give these to children without proper medical supervision b/c they do cause respiratory depression ("lowered breathing"). To make it more challenging, many OTC formulations of codeine contain NSAIDs like paracetamol or ibuprofen, which are contraindicated in some situations of respiratory hypersensitivity.

Geez, it's all so complicated! Whatever happened to just giving them whisky? ;-)

[sillywoman]

Yup, just come across it POM = Prescription Only Medicine. Good guess Saffron.

You learn something new every day!

[The Nappy Lady]

Sorry thought it was a well known term Sillywoman.

Xxx