A word of warning on phenergan

We're taking DS who is almost 18 months to US next week and have been a bit apprehensive about how he will handle the flight given he is such an active child. Every second person we've spoken to has told us to give him phenergan.

Now, I'm not keen on drugging him out of principle, but DH was liking the sound of it... So I thought I would google phenergan to see what info was out there. I am gobsmacked - there are a zillion warnings out there about the use of it, it should NEVER be given to children under 2 and should be used with extreme caution in children over 2. Apparently in 2005 the manufacturer released a host of warnings about it's use due to it being linked to extreme respiratory problems and a host of legal action that was being taken against them.

I would post a link, but not sure if it is allowed. But just google it if you're interested.

I'm so glad that I decided to do a little bit of research rather than just going on the widespread advice we'd been given. From what I've found it can be a very scary drug, so thought I should share it with everyone.

Thats scary - we use it for DD when she has a SEVERE allergic reaction, Polaramine doesnt work as quick as what Phenergan does.

In my area you can only buy Phenergan OTC if the Dr has written it on a piece of paper for you as too many 'parents' use it to knock their children out :(

Eeek - that's a bit scary!

Just to let you know, as another parent who did a long haul flight with a small child (DD was 15 months), we flew from Darwin to Hawaii with stops etc and I didn't use anything to calm DD. I made sure there were plenty of things to keep her occupied (books, and colouring items mostly) and would let her go for walks up and down the aisles when it was okay, to break the tedium of flying.
She seemed to cope very well, and I made sure she either had her dummy or was drinking when we were taking off and landing to help with the pressure equalisation in her ears - just like some adults chew gum or similar. I think if you stay calm and keep your DS as occupied as possible, it should be fine :) And airlines are usually very good at helping keep little ones busy one way or another.

OH! I can also highly recommend getting seating with a basinette, if possible. That made life a LOT easier.
Good luck and enjoy your trip!!

I remember years ago a friend at the time had some phenergan tablets in her bag and her son got into them....we were at the hospital all night as he was on ventilators ect...scarey.
But in saying that and to quote MissM about knocking their kids out. I did it....I ran of 3 hours sleep a night for 8 months due to W and his autism. I had tried everything and the doctor actually suggested I use it to get W into a sleeping pattern. After 5 nights at the doseage prescribed I had a child who actually slept for 12 hours and has now stayed in that routine ever since.
Its like any drug, If it is used correctly and under guideance it can be very effective, if its miss used then it can be harmful. What drug doesnt have side effects?

Very true Maz ... Very true - All drugs have some sort of side effect. Even if 1 person out of 50 million has some sort of side effect the medical boards have a responsibility to make a note of it.

Maz - I am sure you didnt abuse phenergan just to go out partying :)

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Maz - I am sure you didnt abuse phenergan just to go out partying :)

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:rofl: God I wish bawaahahahaha

I know of a girl who used to knock out her son for 18 hours at a time if he ever "annoyed" her. Or if she wanted to go out and he wouldnt go to bed before she wanted to leave she would do it. So then he would be still knocked out when she got home :o :shakehead:

And it was the FIRST thing she said to me when she found out i was pregnant. I then cut her out of my life and still refuse to talk to her.

I agree if used correctly and as the VERY last resort then there is no problem that i can see. I also agree with making sure you have a lot of activities for your DS to ensure hes not unsettled or gets bored.

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:rofl: God I wish bawaahahahaha

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:rofl: You've got the greatest sense of humor! I love it

So true Maz. I just felt the need to share what I'd found, particularly in relation to long haul flights. I've had everybody from colleagues, to shop assistants, to family and even my real estate agent tell me to give it to him. All though I'm sure the risks are low, can you imagine if he had that kind of reaction somewhere over the pacific? I'm glad I did a little research and didn't just go along with it because everybody else was saying it's great. But that said, you're right, every drug does have it's place and should be used accordingly. It just seems that there is a bit of an old school belief out there that phenergen is an easy solution to knock you kids out when it suits you... Kinda like a little bit of whiskey added to their bed time bottle iykwim?

Thanks for the tips Miss M. I'm planning on taking a suitcase full of toys and activities, along with an ipad loaded up with e-books, videos etc and lots of snacks to keep him occupied. I'm sure we'll be fine and if we're not, well it's only 19 hours of our life, we'll survive.

Good Luck with the long flight! Does he like music take an ipod with his faves or something like that? perhaps take a portable dvd player too?

Nope, phenergan when used incorrectly and given at the wrong dose can have a paradoxical effect.

Don't touch it with a barge pole!!

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What drug doesnt have side effects?

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Actually the drowsiness is a side effect. Phenergan is intended as an anti-histamine and an antiemetic but is often used as a sedative because it has the side effect of causing sleepiness.

A Dr suggested this to me for Charlotte's growing pains because she was waking so often and I was a walking Zombie but I wanted to see if she settled again. She hasn't reset fully to a full nights sleep but it's close.

One of the mums at playgroup had tried everything before finally resorting to this to get her then 4 year old in routine. Apparently the reason she finally resorted is because she had a car accident being she was so tired. I can see in instances like that where it's beneficial meaning last resort.

I wish people around me would understand this. My mum kept pushing for my to give DS phenergan, til she asked the chemist & they told her its not allowed in under 2's. She bought me claratyne instead.
Then when the kids were out there started giving DD1 (8) half a tab every night to see if it'd help with the lumps in her neck we are having looked at. This was without me knowing. She's also suggested it to help them sleep 'oh, everyone used to do it. I've never heard that before' :rolleyes:

I have used panadol/nurofen with DD2 to try to change her 3am bedtime routine. I'm seriously considering doing it with her again, coz the 10.30 bed times & 7am mornings are getting too much!

I think it perhaps it used to be more common but the supply of it is more controlled these days (due to misuse :()

I have heard of doctors prescribing sedatives for short term use, to regain some kind of sleeping pattern in small children. But that's not misuse, it's a different thing altogether.

I'd be wary of giving it if it's not needed as I would be with any medication.

One of my friends was saying her mum gave it to her for teething (wtf?). She also said it was harmless but I'm thinking otherwise at the time. anything that sedates the child is a tad sinister IMO

We used it a couple of weeks ago for DS (who is 2) after the doctor told us to get some ... he had horrible eczema and hadn't slept for 3 nights from the itching and discomfort. He did warn us that while it might work on some kids to make them tired, it doesn't work on all kids. For DS, the antihistamine didn't work to reduce his ezcema and he was awake just as much on it as off it. We were told to use it through the day, but we gave him one dose at night and he acted drunk (he was really clumsy - walking into walls, falling over etc) so we decided against giving it to him during the day and didn't go back to it after one dose.

I had phenergan once when I was 13 while I had the chicken pox and it knocked me out cold for 16 hours. It seems like a really strong drug and one that I would avoid if possible. I haven't been that impressed by how it worked for me or for DS.

I've had to give it to both of my kids. They both react to bites really badly. Dd whole arm swelled from just a mozzie bite. She was only 13 months at the time but a special dose was given based on weight and it was given over three doses instead of one big dose.
It made both my kids drowsy but they didn't sleep any longer, they just got grumpy.

My aunt used to give it to both her kids every single night, although that was 25 years ago. My ex bil used( I say used because i wouldn't have a clue now that he's not around) to give to my nephew everyday, even for naps! Terrible!

I don't think it's a drug to be given willy-nilly but, there sometimes is a need when a child isn't sleeping and all other options have been explored.

I remember long before I had kids, when I first started 'going out with' my now DH, his mother and older siblings telling me about phenergen (sp?). DH gets motion sickness and they would use it to knock him out whenever they travelled anywhere. I remember being appalled that anyone would use a drug to 'knock out' a child whatever their intentions. Even now, having a child that suffers motion sickness like my DH, I still cann't stomach the idea of using drugs like that (despite alot of encouragement from DH's family). DH is with me on this, because he remembers how it used to affect him.

It is just soooo scarey the things that 'could' go wrong with using medications for the purposes of 'knocking out' children, particularly young ones. Drugs should only be used for the intended purposes and preferably with doctors express knowledge, particularly in kids. IMHO.

Thanks for sharing.

If you are a little worried with how your DS will handle the flight Brauers Calm would be a much friendlier option...although you might find he needs nothing at all.

mmmm im worried about the long flights too, we are going to London from melbourne when DS is 9mths! direct flight, no stop overs!!!

I believe it is like anything, as a parent you look into it and you make the judgement on it.....there is lots of info on sooo many things and often you will only find the good or the bad, especially with google. Go and speak to your doctor if you want or the chemist to get the information. It does have it uses and people do have their reasons, but most things are not without risk and we are usually all aware of these when we make our decision.

As for using it for children under 2, it clearly states that on the bottle - so that's a no brainer....unless you've been given a dose prescribed by your doctor. Also it does wind some kids up too....in regards to having a bad affect over the ocean, most would recommend you 'try' it before giving on a flight etc for this very reason.

We live remote, so lots of travel....I have a friend who's daughter gets so car sick she vomits the entire way on long trips. She gives it to her daughter so she will sleep and they can get where they are going....it is the only thing that has worked for them.

We are heading on a big trip next week and plan to take some for our DS1 (if needed). Last long trip we had driven for 10hrs, we were staying in a family room (cheapest) and DS2 who is a horrid waker was being just that...horrid and kept waking up. This made DS1 keep waking up and acting up. By 1am DH had to take a drive to get DS2 asleep and then stayed asleep in the car in the carpark with him til his next feed (usually every2hrs) just to get some sleep. It was horrible and we had a long exhausting haul the next day. Tired and driving with precious cargo....dangerous. So if needed we intend to use it.

my dd has tried phenergen and polaramine as she's allergic to mozzie bites and swells up and hacks herself up. It makes her hyper!!! like won't have a day sleep and struggles to get to sleep that evening...

there is such a thing as LIQUID baby Phenergan, My doctor told me to use it on DS when we went overseas when he was 18 months if he wouldn't sleep.

At the airport I went to the toilet as DH gave him a ( measuring cup ) full, without even reading it

It had NO effect whatsoever on my little terror, but I didn't want to use it anyway. Sometimes DH and I don't agree ;)