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Medicines
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 5:04 pm
by KellyB
Now I am sure you have all heard the reports about all the e numbers etc in medicines they have named and shamed HOWEVER no one has mentioned an alternative. Does anyone know of any. I am looking for something paracetamol based for Saffie's teething. During the day we get away with homeopathic teething graduals and a frozen teether but at night we NEED paracetamol!!!
Sorry if this has already been covered
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 5:21 pm
by Clara
I´m afraid that you probably won´t find a paracetomal without all those nasties, it´s industry standard.
Fortunately we got away with teething with minimal fuss, though we do use paracetomal occasionally. I found a brand in Spain that is much more concentrated than Calpol, 1ml rather than 5ml for your average 1 year old, I figure that means she is getting a lot less of the nasties. Perhaps you could look into similar in the UK?
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:23 pm
by Russian Doll
i use a own brand one for my lot...amy goes hyper on calpol..but she can have the pharmicists own...its all about trial and error...
half a grape rubbed on the gums works...the juice acts as an anthesist
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:23 pm
by KellyB
What's the name of the one you found in Spain?? Wondering if I can get it shipped here?? Taking less seems better to me too!!
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:59 pm
by KellyB
half a grape rubbed on the gums works...the juice acts as an anthesist
Now that explains LOADS. Right now she can't get enough of grapes red seedless ones cut in half....she loves them!! Think I'll give them to her more...thanks for that!!
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 7:39 pm
by Clara
KellyB wrote:What's the name of the one you found in Spain?? Wondering if I can get it shipped here?? Taking less seems better to me too!!
Oh, wish I´d read that earlier.....it´s in my DDs room and I´ve just put her to bed. If I remember I´ll sneak in there later or let you know tomorrow.....if I forget (and there´s a strong chance that I will

) please give me a PM to nudge me. I´ll post the ingredients list too.
It seems to be the norm in Spain, I´ve seen another mother dishing it out from a different bottle and we had this conversation about it being so much less than Calpol.
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 7:49 pm
by The Riff-Raff Element
Paracetamol is available in powder form from pharmacists, though it is sold at their discretion. In France we can get graded spoons to weigh out the powder in 50mg lots to make up the right dose for the children. Obviously you have to be careful to get this right.
You could find a friendly pharmacist, explain your concerns, and ask them to make up a couple of dozen wraps (folded papers, which used to be how most drugs were dispensed) of 100mg or whatever s/he considers appropriate for your baby's weight. Then just stir the powder into milk or juice and away you go.
Alternatively, have you tried paracetamol suppositories for children? Lots of our friends use them.
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 7:56 pm
by ina
Excuse a stupid question - but this is the first time I hear that babies are given paracetamol for teething. Is that meant to work as a painkiller? (I'm just asking because it doesn't really do anything for me if I have a toothache...)
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 8:08 pm
by ocailleagh
If memory serves Ina, paracetamol is the active ingredient of Calpol, which tends to be given to children for just about anything these days (rather worryingly).
About using grapes halves rubbed into the gums...won't the sugar and acid that the grapes contain affect the teeth that are coming through? Just a thought!
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 8:18 pm
by KellyB
Clara....Oh gosh don't you go creeping into her room for me I can wait don't want to risk disturbing her
Ina...Paracetamol does help with pain...... I used it after my c section as I didn't want to take anything too harsh while breastfeeding and it helped me it also helps with fever which Saffie is getting along with the pain poor baby oh I wish she was one of those that breezed through it. She got her first tooth just before her 1st birthday (15th May) and now they are all coming in together.
ocailleagh....Don't worry about the acid in the grapes I am a fanatic tooth brusher lol I clean my teeth 3 to 4 times a day Saffie has her 2 little ones cleaned 2 to 3 times a day depending what she has eaten lol I only have 1 filling at 33 which I am very proud of! I don't like giving Calpol or any medicine to her BUT when she is in pain I have to however I totally agree with you about people just dishing it out for anything and everything!!
Jon.... I am going to go and sweet talk my local pharmacist tomorrow I didn't know they could do that...THANK YOU
Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 11:34 pm
by caithnesscrofter
my daughter wore an amber teething necklace and she didnt exhibit hardly any teething discomfort. Im not positive they work but, my grannie says so! Hope your little one starts feeling a bit better.
Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 6:18 am
by Russian Doll
ocailleagh wrote:If memory serves Ina, paracetamol is the active ingredient of Calpol, which tends to be given to children for just about anything these days (rather worryingly).
About using grapes halves rubbed into the gums...won't the sugar and acid that the grapes contain affect the teeth that are coming through? Just a thought!
there is that but i make sure my lot brush straight after plus the chewing on the toothbrush helps the pain as well
Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 7:46 am
by citizentwiglet
Kelly, if it's any consolation at all - getting all the teeth through quickly means teething is over sooner! Ellis was the same - no teeth at all at 9 months, then every morning you'd look in his mouth and there would be four new ones! He had most of them through by the time he turned one.
Fortunately, apart from a sore chin from constant dribbling and a bit of a sore bum (solved with egg-whites), Ellis coped extremely well with it all. We used the Ashton & Parsons powders, but never needed paracetamol for teething. He's only had paracetamol once, we're not even sure he had that, as he was squirming so badly I think the vast majority ended up all over me, the floor, his vest.....
Fortunately, he was very active - so we used to go chasing him round the house like a couple of idiots for a couple of hours to wear him out before bed - so he slept like a log!!
Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 8:21 am
by Clara
It´s called Gelocatil Infantil, other listed ingredients are Propilenglicol (propylene glycol in english?), E422, E123, Macrogol(? in english), dose is 0.1ml per kg
Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:02 am
by Russian Doll
citizentwiglet wrote:Kelly, if it's any consolation at all - getting all the teeth through quickly means teething is over sooner! Ellis was the same - no teeth at all at 9 months, then every morning you'd look in his mouth and there would be four new ones! He had most of them through by the time he turned one.
Fortunately, apart from a sore chin from constant dribbling and a bit of a sore bum (solved with egg-whites), Ellis coped extremely well with it all. We used the Ashton & Parsons powders, but never needed paracetamol for teething. He's only had paracetamol once, we're not even sure he had that, as he was squirming so badly I think the vast majority ended up all over me, the floor, his vest.....
Fortunately, he was very active - so we used to go chasing him round the house like a couple of idiots for a couple of hours to wear him out before bed - so he slept like a log!!
how did you solve napppy rash with egg whiteds hun...zach gets really bad rashs and sudocream does nothing