Medised - have you used it to 'knock' your kids out on a flight? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Medised - have you used it to 'knock' your kids out on a flight?

117
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 16:48

A friend recommended Medised (apparently a cough medicine available from the UK).

I am flying home to Oz for Xmas with a one year old. A mate said it will 'knock out' my little one for half the flight. Obviously this sounds like a dream flight (LOL) but I also don't want to be dru*ging my little man.

Have you used it?
What age was your child? My baby is 1.
Do you recommend it?
Is it safe?

77
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 November 2012 - 11:22
I noticed that calpol used make my second son sleep when I gave it to him when he was ill so I gave it to him half way through a 16 hour trip after he screamed for hours non stop as he could not stand being confined. He fell asleep half an hour later and slept through the rest of the journey, changing planes and a few hours on the next one. He also woke up a little mellow. But then again it never made my oldest one sleepy.....
19
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 23:16
i agree with some of the others. i have heard that medised and phenergen can actually have the opposite affect on many children. i was flying to oz with my dd when she was 12 months and the lady next to me had her ds of about the same age and gave him medised. he barely slept a wink and my dd slept for most of the flight (i did not give her anything)! apparently it recudes the lungs capacity to work, my dr actually told me it can stop the lungs working, which is why it is really dangerous for LO. 1 is way too young. plus, like boysboysboys said, there is no way i am giving my kids something when i am 35000 feet up in the air and no way to get them help if something goes wrong. when are you flying back? i am going back with 2 LO this time! i think i am going a bit loopy. maybe we will be on the same flight and can kee each other sane!!
1370
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 23:00
My DH had croup whilst we were living in Malaysia and was admitted to hospital. One of the medications she was given was Medised and it sent her TOTALLY wild/hyper/hysterical.It was actually quite scary. The doctor said that happened to 5% to 10% of kids who took Medised. I did numerous long hauls with just a baby or toddler and on other occasions both a baby and toddler on my own and it was honestly never as bad as I'd feared. The white noise of the plane seems to (eventually) lull them to sleep and keep them sleeping. I did have MANY friends in KL who tried Medised but although their kids slept on the flight they had horror stories of them being crotchety and grumpy on awakening...better by far to have a natural sleep than a drug induced one. I don't mean to sound judgemental here as I know one friend who it worked for her and she always used it and who am I to judge her.
28
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 22:26
I talked to a Dr about it once whose attitude was it's a mad thing to do and what are you going to do at 35,000 feet when the child has a bad reaction to it. IMO not worth messing with and just go through the pain :-)
557
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 22:12
Do people really medicate their children for their own convenience ??? :\:
96
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 22:07
I would never consider medicating my children unless they were sick! Same for me!
4062
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 21:57
Medised got reclassified a while back, it used to be recommended from 3 months, now it's from age 6. Something to do with the possible side effects on young children from one of the active ingredients, I can't remember the specifics.
297
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 21:41
I would never consider medicating my children unless they were sick!
393
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 17:27
Some children respond to it by going 'hyper' That was my experience! I had given medised to my 1st daughter for medicinal purposes when she was sick with no problems. When she was about 15 months I flew with her on my own to the US and she didn't sleep the entire way. On the way back I gave her Medised.......it was a nightmare. She was overtired and the medised just exacerbated everything. You just don't know how your child will react and it might make things worse for you rather than better. I know it is a nightmare on long flights with a child that will not sleep. Every time I had to fly with one under 3 I dreaded it for weeks. Having been through it now with 3 kids I find I just have to rock and sing like crazy no matter how much they try and wiggle away until they fall asleep. Sometimes my arms feel like they are going to fall off but it eventually does the trick. And then I just pray I don't have to go to the bathroom!
1370
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 17:05
Some children respond to it by going 'hyper'
3863
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 17:02
A friend recommended Medised (apparently a cough medicine available from the UK). I am flying home to Oz for Xmas with a one year old. A mate said it will 'knock out' my little one for half the flight. Obviously this sounds like a dream flight (LOL) but I also don't want to be dru*ging my little man. Have you used it? What age was your child? My baby is 1. Do you recommend it? Is it safe? Phenergan liquid used to be the prefered choice for getting children to sleep Or any antihistine drowsy medicine, i think Medised contains the antihistamine diphenhydramine. It can be a strong sedative for some however it depends on the dosage and i imagine the doseage for a child will be very low. ( It can be given after 3 months) Only around 2.5ml to 5mls. We used to prescribe it many years ago at the hospital pharmacy however i havent been in that industry for 12 years
2958
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 16:58
Medised has been discontinued. Why knock your little one out? surely at 1 he/she sleeps at some point? Be aware that some children have a reaction to 'knock out' syrup and can turn hyper on it so that would make it 10 times worse. Make sure you have their favourite toys, a nice snuggly blanket, some snacks, an ipad loaded with their favourite programmes - I always found that it was the thought of travelling with little ones that was worse than the actual travelling. good luck - i'm sure it will be OK for you.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 16:58
I haven't used it for the purpose you are thinking. But have used it in the past when dd has been unwell, it contains paracetamol and diphenhydramine, the latter being the sedative part, and it was some years ago but remember that it did enable her to sleep. Not sure about it's suitability for a 1 year old though... Personally I would think very carefully before doing it, maybe see your doctor first and get some medical advice if you feel that the flight will really be that bad for the baby.
 
 

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