When do you use panadol/nurofen???

[amberj]

I know from a purely pharmocological perspective, you can give panadol and nurofen at the same time as they are different types of drugs and act in different ways.

From a purely feeling based perspective, though, I too would be hesitant about doing this unless my DS was very unhappy- something about giving two lots of drugs freaks me out even though I know technically its ok!

There is something you can't give at the same time as one of these....um, codeine or something? Can someone smart come and tell us?

[KimmyF]

Yeah amberj i'm with you i know you can do it but it does freak me out and thankfully i haven't been in a position where i had to do it it's interesting to hear what other people do and what works for them, and also the difference in what health professionals advise to, there is so much conflicting advice

[~Saram~]

it is interesting to hear everyone replies - thanks!

Yep for DD her temp is around 37 at rest so if it's over 39 I know she is really ill. Tonight she is however around 38 but seems relatively settled. I just thought it was interesting the way hubby just jumped on the panadol like "she has a fever - must give panadol"

On the other hand DS - like me has a low resting body temp - around 36 so when he gets to 38 I know he is really buring up.

KimmyF - I personally don't use nurofen as when DS was little and they brought out childrens nurofen (then recommended from 1 yr) and it caused him to vomit everytime I gave it to him - I literally shuddered when I saw it is now recommended from 6 mth. I also think it's interesting that the pharmist insists it MUST be taken with food - heard one the other day at the chemist - mother questioned if BM was OK and pharmist said better with solids. Yet how do you make sure a 6mth old eats something when they wake at 2am with a fever/pain??? - blah but of topic - yes I have heard you can take both at the same time but have never had reason to

Oh another interesting tibit. My friend recently took her son to ER with high fever - she had already given panadol but the dr told her that the dosage on the bottle is under the actual amount you can give as the manufacture 'assumes' parents will use more than the recommended dose??? WTF

[Phteven]

Oh another interesting tibit. My friend recently took her son to ER with high fever - she had already given panadol but the dr told her that the dosage on the bottle is under the actual amount you can give as the manufacture 'assumes' parents will use more than the recommended dose??? WTF

Interesting.... we actually give less than the recommended dose because panadol isn't a medicatiion that works twice as well if you give twice as much and I worry about the stress on their little livers.

[sazzafrazz]

Good timing as I have been saying to DH the last few days "are we giving it to DD too much? What do others do?"!!!

I give nurafen mainly because it lasts longer and because DD usually needs it for teething pain rather than fever. Trouble is her teething comes and goes for weeks and sometimes months before a tooth comes through and she feels a lot of pain in that time. There have been times when I have given her one or two doses in 24hours for maybe a week at a time just for teething pain as she cant sleep and is absolutely miserable. If it's daytime I try to only use teething gel though as I really feel its not good to give her too much medication. I have tried the natural Brauers teething relief and it didnt seem to do much for her.

If she is unwell and has a fever I give it to her as she is always miserable and very grizzly but after the first few days when it turns to just a runny nose etc she doesnt have it.

I have rarely given it repeatedly when the dosage wears off, perhaps two doses in a row in the evening/night but no more than that and I have never given both panadol and nurafen. I wasnt aware you could and certainly wouldnt give myself it. I feel bad enough giving demazin and nurafen and teething gel at once!!!

ETA: Last week she had the flu and a temp of around 38 to 38.5 for 6days. I gave her 2 or 3 doses a day for that whole time so she could rest at night (she still woke up to 5times). She had been checked by the GP who said "just a cold - do the usual panadol, rest, etc".

[Astrid]

I tend to base using panadol on the discomfort level that is being shown. I don't seem to be able to find the thermometer when I need it, so rarely base on actual temperature. I am reluctant to give it though. Refuse to give the girls nurofen now, found it hyped up DD1 and am just uncomfortable with it. Generally if the girls are unwell, they are not really eating, so hard to get them to have food and take it. I am really uncomfortable with the alternate dosing of panadol and nurofen. That is from a gut instinct basis and also due to the conflicing info out there. If I suspect that a doctors trips or one to the emergency dept is going to happen then I wont give them any as I want the Dr to see how sick they are.

I do feel like a bit of a dill though, DD2 was vomiting horribly and bringing up bile so we took her to hospital. The Dr gave her a dose of panadol and it helped her a lot. I would never have thought to give it for a stomach upset, but he said she was in pain and he was treating that. So something I have to remember for next time.

We do have Brauers Pain and Fever relief, so sometimes we will give that a go first now.

[SamiH]

Re the Nurofen/paracetomol thing (I say paracetomol because I dont use Panadol I use Dymadon)

As someone else said - they are different medicines - paracetomol based and iboprofen based - so they are fine to give together. In hospital after birth I have been offered Naprosyn plus panadol - so very similar one for antiinflammatory properties and one for pain.

Nurofen I try to give after dinner, so then if there is a wake up and one of my kids whoever is still ill with a big temp, i do paracetomol. I never did the two together until my DD had terrible painful ear infections - never did it with DS1 and had the same feelings as some of you - until you have to deal with a temperature that just doesnt subside and it causing your little one so much discomfort.

you cant give aspirin and ibuprofen together amberj - but you must be thinking of something else i dont know either cos i wouldnt give asprin to my babies anyway LOL.

[Indadhanu]

I only give Dymadon (paracetamol), never ibuprofen (personal and family history of gastro-intestional bleeding).

If its daytime and her fever is over 39 and she is a crankypants or it seems to be affecting her I'll give it to her. If she seems ok, playing and drinking and eating then I don't. If its night time and her fever is over 39 I'll give it to her because sleep is important (for all! lol!).

ETA: We tend to 'underdose' her, she's 13kg and I give for 11kg. I do worry about the effects of medication on her system, as much as I worry about the effects of an illness... I do use it as I think theres definitely a place for it, I don't want her to be excessively/unnecessarily uncomfortable or in pain.

[rufalina]

I usually need to do the paracetamol / ibuprofen chaser 30 minutes later if DS is running a high fever, (for him anything over 38 as he has a usual 36), and panadol alone never seems to bring his fever down. But I take his temp 30 mins later and see if it is heading down, and if it is I will leave it at that. But I generally know DS need the extra ibuprofen help, as he will be crying and clinging to me...

I only use paracetamol for a fever though, and the ibuprofen is locked away and only used in emergencies...