Phenergan in babies

[ferrals5]

Has anyone else had their doctor tell/proscribe phenergan to their baby.

Now before you bombard me with all the not recomended for babies under 2 years old i have not given it to my daughter but i was interested when my doctor and another BB members doctor told us to give our babies some to help with sleep when they were unwell.
Years ago when my boys were babies it was widely used to help unsettled/sick babies sleep and for long travel or allergic reactions i gave it to my boys when unwell (13-18 years ago) so i was just interested to see how many other doctors think it is acceptable to use in babies.

I did read it can supress breathing in infants as it can sedate them to much.

[UntoldAngel]

I imagine bub would have to be very sick for a doctor to prescribe it. But in saying that, do you trust your doctor and that he/she would give you appropriate information? I seen a dr once (not my regular) and he gave me pain relief for my then 6month old and it clearly stated 'Not suitable for infants under 2years'

I know that pharmacists are reluctant to give phenergan to parents of young children, however my DH walked in and said he wanted it to help him sleep during the day and they happily handed it over. Having seen how easily it knocks him out (obviously the doses would be very different, but he only takes a quarter of a tablet) I would be reluctant to give it to my children

[Taurean]

DD was prescribed it recently after a trip to emergency with severe hives - she'd had an allergic reaction to penicillin. The emergency doctor said it's absolutely fine for babies but it's not recommended for GPs to prescribe it as many parents in the past had abused it and used it to help their kids sleep, IYKWIM

Not all kids relax on phernergan though and DD was one of those. She wasn't super hypo but it certainly didn't relax her. She slept well when she first had it, after we left emergency, but only because she was so sick and naturally exhausted. She was on phernergan until the hives disappeared, about 4-5 days, and it didn't help her sleep or chill out at all.

I know of older mums who swore by it to help their kids get extra sleep in the 70's, 80's and 90's, when it was readily available. I've only got one friend who is my age who's doctor actually prescribed it to help her child sleep.

ETA: the phernergan we have is in liquid form and it's specifically for infants.

[onthefly]

I have heard it has been associated with bad outcomes in young children, yes. I certainly wouldn't give it to a young baby for that reason, unless there was serious medical need. I'm surprised a doctor would suggest it for a baby simply to sleep, especially since not sleeping is pretty normal and healthy baby behaviour.

[Beautiful Disaster]

DD was prescribed it recently after a trip to emergency with severe hives - she'd had an allergic reaction to penicillin. The emergency doctor said it's absolutely fine for babies but it's not recommended for GPs to prescribe it as many parents in the past had abused it and used it to help their kids sleep, IYKWIM

I know someone like that. she used to give it to them to knock them out when she wanted peace and quiet

[Babyluv]

I've taken the recommended dose for adults myself and it completely knocks me out to the point I can't open my eyes even if I want too, comatosed almost hehe so for me I wouldn't give it to my dd in case she had the same reaction.
My mum has said to me why don't you give dd some phenergan to break her terrible sleeping patterns but there's just no way I would give it to her, seems it was common practice 20ish yrs ago to give babies phenergan to help them sleep.
It's strange the dr prescribed it. I think if bub is sick with a cold, breathing would already be a bit of a struggle and giving them phenergan when like this there would be even more of a risk of them stopping breathing.

[ferrals5]

Ella was really restless and just really not happy after her 6 week needles she had stomach pains runny poo and just would not settle (which i know can be normal after needles) so our doctor said to give her a small dose to help her relax and settle and sleep better just until she got over the needles which i did not i just delt with it until she got better.
And yes i had a friend years ago that dosed her kids up on it every night so they would sleep my kids have all been good sleepers so i have never had to use it for that i only used it when they were sick and when DS2 was bitten by wasp's or bee's as he reacted badly.
I do trust my doctor he has always gone above and beyond with my families health especialy when we were going through all the drama before and after losing Abbi and with my eldest son's chronic ear problems so i do trust his judgement 100% so i do believe it is safe in bubs WHEN NEEDED not to be abused by parents that just want their babies to sleep longer.

But in saying that i wont be using it unless absolutely nessarsary

[Miss E]

I have heard it has been associated with bad outcomes in young children, yes. I certainly wouldn't give it to a young baby for that reason, unless there was serious medical need. I'm surprised a doctor would suggest it for a baby simply to sleep, especially since not sleeping is pretty normal and healthy baby behaviour.

I tend to agree. When we did a long haul flight awhile back I had everyone from my colleagues to my real estate agent telling me to get it for the flight. I googled it and came across a lot of information against it's use, including class actions related to horrible outcomes in babies, so decided against it. I did however get some Brauers calm drops which are homeopathic and they worked really well.

Phernergen is an anti hystamein (sp?) and meant to treat allergies. So personally, I would only use it for it's intended use iykim?

[Danielle_NZ]

I must admit I've used it on DS2 at 2.5yrs to break a waking habit. He was waking at 2am every night and after discussions with the doctor we used it.

[helle]

i had a Dr perscribe it too me when ds had tonsilitis. I never used it, he was so lethargic and sleepy as it was. DH kept pestering me about using it when DS teeths (and at the moment while he has a bit of a cold) to help him sleep. It was driving me nuts as I really don't like medications that will dope kids up, i won't even take them myself. In the end he ended up going to the chemist and asking for some and the pharmisist gave him a stern talking to about how it's not reccommended for under 2's, so that shut him up ><;

[delphmoon]

Just recently my DD (10 months) came out in a severe rash caused by a food allergy. The doctor said phenergan is not recommended in children under 2 but is safe in the small dose she was prescribing my DD to help manage the allergy. When I went to the pharmacist to get it he was hesitant in giving it to me and was suspicious. At this stage I didn't know why. I showed him DDs rash and he agreed to give it. He said phenergan can make babies extremely hyperactive which result in seizures....

By now I was reluctant to give it so I gave DD a half dose and watched her like a hawk. It was a scary night to say the least. It amazes me that mums and dads just give this stuff willy nilly without much thought as to what it can actually do.