Demazin

[december]

Hi, does anyone give demazin to their 8mnth old when they have a bad cold. I have some at home as i use it occasionally on my 3yo,. Chemist said ok but half the dosage.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Wow I find it really irresponsible of your chemist to say that. Considering law is now that you need a prescription... I think they would get in a fair bit of trouble for recommending it.

That said no, no demazin here.

[feeb]

i bought dimetapp for an 11 month old and they said half the 2 year old dose! My dad is a pharmacist and said same and when i asked GP for script he gave it to me and said you wont need it and he was right they looked at it and said dont need a script.

Reason things changed was people over dosing kids to make them sleep

[AndiE]

Yep, I first gave my then 10-month-old DS half a dosage, and I continue to do so every now and again when he's so snotty and snuffy it affects his sleep and/or drinking. Still only half a dosage (2ml, from memory) and usually only twice a day at most. Helps to clear his nose and doesn't affect him one iota otherwise.

I told my GP virtually immediately what I was doing, and she said it was fine provided it was the correct dosage. I've mentioned it to another GP and got the same response.

Apparently you used to be able to buy Demazin, Dimetapp over the counter for kids under 2, but due to irresponsible parents in the UK dosing up their kids far too much (well, so a chemist told me!), the UK made it illegal to sell over the counter to under 2s. Australia then followed suit. The same chemist told me he thought it was ridiculous that 99.9% of responsible parents had to suffer because of the actions of a tiny minority in another country.

Maybe just keep an eye on your 8mo after the first dose just to rule out any adverse reaction, but I'm sure there would be no probs with the correct dose.

Andie

[AliBaby]

i bought dimetapp for an 11 month old and they said half the 2 year old dose! My dad is a pharmacist and said same and when i asked GP for script he gave it to me and said you wont need it and he was right they looked at it and said dont need a script.

Reason things changed was people over dosing kids to make them sleep

Is that the only reason it was taken off the market...because people were dosing their kids wrongly?? So if you dose your child with the correct amount is it safe?

[Astrid]

There was a thread about this when it first happened. Wonder if it is still around.

[feeb]

pharmacist and go said used appropriatly and not all the time its ok,

helped DS breath with snotty runny blocked nose

[aussienic]

I don't buy those sorts of medications unless they are neccesary by that I mean their sleep is being seriously disturbed

I know I definetly wouldn't be giving to an 8 month old.. I think the age is 2 isn't it?

Try a humidifier and baby vicks..

[feeb]

I don't buy those sorts of medications unless they are neccesary by that I mean their sleep is being seriously disturbed

I know I definetly wouldn't be giving to an 8 month old.. I think the age is 2 isn't it?

Try a humidifier and baby vicks..

age 2 is only cause they took baby ones of shelfs for reason as listed above due to UK having some parents using it wrongly

[Astrid]

Isn't it more risky to have parents using the "older" version and trying to work out the correct dose, than what is was to have a specific infant one which lists the right dose per weight?

[Snacks]

I used to use Dimatapp for Natalie when she had a cold and/or ear infection only for overnight (at GP's recommendation). Now they don't sell it and Demazin is revolting.
We bought a vaporiser and seriously, it is worth its weight in gold. I find that Natty can breathe beautifully and therefore sleep fine when the vaporiser with the Euky Bear inhalant in there. I wouldn't bother with the Dimatapp now, even if I could buy it.
Totally recommend the vaporiser. And Fess during the day.

[feeb]

Isn't it more risky to have parents using the "older" version and trying to work out the correct dose, than what is was to have a specific infant one which lists the right dose per weight?

yep it is very silly of them as sooooooooo many people doing it. And so many being told to still get it by health care professionals who know they will be sensible.

[MantaRay]

The reason that the infant (under 2) version was made script only was that very serious side effects, including depressed breathing and hallucinations have been experienced by some infants. Studies have also repeatedly shown that cold medicines do not have the intended effect (ie relieve symptoms or assist recovery) in children under 12.

If you compare the ingredients of the two versions (infant vs child) I am pretty sure that you will find giving half the dose is not the same as giving the right quantity of the infant version (I am pretty sure I checked this myself with the pharmacist at one stage).

As long as you are aware of the risks, it's up to you what you decide to do. Personally given that the medications are not shown to be effective I see no need to further line the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies.