Will Nuerofen Harm my baby

[millymoo]

Hi

My daughter is 19 mths old and so far I have not needed any pain relief for her. That may be because she only has 4 teeth!! However we can now see more coming through and her getting restless and in pain.

My first thought is to buy Children's Panandol but I have seen many adverts on TV lately for Neurofen for babies.

My Husband however is adamant that this is not a good medication for her and refuses to let me buy it. He says there are many side affects and we should n`t use Neurofen.

I would like to know any views on this.:flowerz:

[the_queen]

Ibuprofen has been linked to stomach ulcers and things like that - and in some children (ie when used on a baby with croup) it can restrict their airways.

I don't like using anything with my kids, but I do use paracetomol if absolutely necessary but I will never give them ibuprofen (and will never use it myself).

I will try to dig up some research for you. :)

[Roopee]

I would avoid Ibuprofen for anyone- but children in particular.
It has been linked to Stomach ulcers (as the queen said) and other 'issues'- so for me its just not worth the risk.

Now that being said- im sure that the majority of children who have had it are fine! It's just more of a concern for those that 'over use' it if that makes sense. You know- at the slightest whinge they stick that syringe in the kids mouth?

I would rather use Paracetamol than Ibuprofen.

Take your Dh's advice- smart man!:flowerz::hugs:

[the_queen]

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1563066.htm

That's the first reputable thing I found, I'll keep looking though :)

[julietv8]

Nurofen can be very damaging for tummies, especially little ones, do a search for ibuprofen (thats the active ingredient) and make up your own mind. I would stick to the panadol.

[neostudded]

I would stick with panadol, I have two family member's who work in pharmacies (sp) and they have read alot of bad stuff about it.Sadly though, they are not allowed to say anything bad about nurofen when people ask.

I am discusted they have ad's on TV about it.:(

[Chunkydunks]

We've used both with no problems. Ibuprofen has been linked to things like the others have said but I was always led to believe if take after a feed then its less likely to cause these problems. I have a nephew who is allergic to paracetamol so he has to have ibuprofen for pain relief.

[the_queen]

And the other problem with it being advertised and marketed as it is nowadays, is that parents are told "you can give paracetomol AND nurofen, because they're different drugs" which is just.... ugh, I mean that's like saying "you can have a bit of heroin and a bit of cocaine, they're different drugs so you won't OD". You're overloading a tiny system by giving two lots of drugs. Their tiny livers cannot handle it.

[Refresh]

We dont use either.....I think one of the main concerns with ibuprofen is that so much LESS is knows about it than paracetemol:yes:

[Nowhere]

hey there

neurephen has its place its an anti inflamotry and is great for post operative pain in infants, But is not just for a panadol subsitute, It should only be used under medical advice

[SassyMummy]

I've never looked into it, so I'd say those above, who HAVE done the research, know what they're talking about more than I will.

All I can add is my own experience - I've had nurofen for years (don't use panadol because it does absolutely nothing at all), and have never suffered as a result... I give it to DD too as she doesn't seem to respond to panadol... and was given it in hospital to make a temp come down once... the only thing that made it go down! (I'd been giving her panadol, but started freaking out when she was at 41 degrees, at 6 months, and it wasn't going down).

[Chunkydunks]

If its pain relief for teething is what you're after then I myself would recommend Brauers teething pain relief. Natural no where near as harsh.

[Refresh]

Yes Brauers are great as are um....whattheirname? ummmmmm......those little tablets?? Someone?

[Refresh]

Hylands:d

[OneNowOneLater]

Given the choice out of the two main options, panadol or nurofen, i'd have to say panadol. Esp for teething. There is no harm going to see your gp or the pharmacist to get their advice and recommendations on which would be better suited for your child.

Fever however, i'd have to say nurofen. When my dd had a high temp for 3 days straight (38.1 +) - i was giving her panadol every four hours trying to get it to drop with no avail, the dr told me to piggyback the two. Nurofen got rid of her fever straight away, and was instant relief. imo you should only piggyback UNDER MEDICAL DIRECTION ONLY.

Sorry, i've wondered of track with my post a little.

[Roopee]

Oh, I forgot to add- my DD2 was very very ill when she was 5mths (remeber all those hospy visits and stays Millymoo? with high temps, vomitting and diarrheoa (sp?)we were in and out of that place for 16days) and she did have Panadol AND Nurofen together (piggybacked).

BUT she was in the ER and paediatric ward- under medical supervision (her temp was 41-42C and didn't come down for days and days (was used as a last resort by the paediatric registrar)- I wouldn't be doing it at home.:no::).

[millymoo]

This is all so very helpful and DH will be beaming when I tell him!! You know how a man loves to be right. I had heard about many of these things regarding tummies in particular.

Another reason it has helped is I am from the UK and we all used a product called Calpol....it is paracetamol based and a standard thing in most households with babies/children. I did ask for it here at first but when I got that familiar "blank " look:laughing:;) I realized it wasn`t available.

Thanks too for the natural recommendations for teething. Again, products i am not familiar with.

QM, great link.:D

I did find it a big surprise to see Neurofen on the TV for babies too:(

Roopee, I do remember:hugs:

[~Temet Nosce~]

Im going against the grain and saying nurofen is fine, in moderation.
Im getting some for my baby today but only after being up and down all night every 30-40 mins to a crying teething snotty bubs with extremly swollen gums (being an anti-inflammatory too I think it will help more)
But I will only be giving her one dose before bed.

[c38]

Studies that found the risk of adverse reactions for Paracetomol vs ibuprophen is about equal.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17638093?ordinalpos=17&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10506264?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles&dbfrom=pubmed

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8660083?ordinalpos=219&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum


These one talk about how we tend to over medicate our children.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17608647?ordinalpos=19&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14701898?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=4&log$=relatedarticles&dbfrom=pubmed

[Chunkydunks]

Im going against the grain and saying nurofen is fine, in moderation.
Im getting some for my baby today but only after being up and down all night every 30-40 mins to a crying teething snotty bubs with extremly swollen gums (being an anti-inflammatory too I think it will help more)
But I will only be giving her one dose before bed.


I agree with what you're saying. Just to let you know though the Brauers teething relief also has an anti-inflammatory property to it. Infact it was the only thing to help my DS when he was teething. I could give him all the nurophen and panadol in the world and he'd still scream at me.

[justmum]

I have to say I am a big fan of the Brauers too. I have tried Panadol and Nurofen without much success. Brauers is wonderful stuff, works very quickly.

[JJJ&D'sMum]

Personally I would try to avoid panadol and nurofen for teething but that's just my choice. DS1 teethed for 12 months before producing his first tooth at 17 months and then cross cut. I used Bonjella or chemist brand teething gels back then as Brauer's wasn't heard of and we managed with a lot of patience and lots of cuddles.

Good luck with whatever you choose and I hope it works.

:hugs:
CC

[Tam-I-Am]

Nurofen, as mentioned, is an anti-inflammatory drug that can have a very caustic affect on the lining of the stomach. If you DO give it to your baby, make sure you only EVER give it on a full stomach, and even then use it as sparingly as possible and only when absolutely necessary. It can, as previously mentioned, cause gastric ulcers, an inflammation of the stomach lining (also known as gastritis) that can be very painful, along with a whole host of other side effects.


hey there

neurephen has its place its an anti inflamotry and is great for post operative pain in infants, But is not just for a panadol subsitute, It should only be used under medical advice

I couldn't agree more - Its not that nurofen is the anti-christ and should be banned forever. Its the fact that its in uneducated (of course, well meaning!) hands that is often the problem. Parents want to relieve their babies pain and distress, of course, but often this can lead to the misuse of medication. If you DO decide to use it, at least get a pharmacist's advice. Better yet, ask a GP.


And the other problem with it being advertised and marketed as it is nowadays, is that parents are told "you can give paracetomol AND nurofen, because they're different drugs" which is just.... ugh, I mean that's like saying "you can have a bit of heroin and a bit of cocaine, they're different drugs so you won't OD". You're overloading a tiny system by giving two lots of drugs. Their tiny livers cannot handle it.


I'm sorry, but I disagree. Sometimes (very rarely) its necessary to give two drugs - even to a baby - at the same time. There are very good reasons why a baby might require BOTH panadol and nurofen, given that one is a pain relieving medication and the other is an anti-inflammatory medication. To say that their livers can't handle it is misleading. Certainly if the meds were to be given without medical advice, or for long periods of time, then this would pose added risks. I don't believe in giving babies or children unnecessary medications either - but I don't think that misinforming parents and telling them that there is NEVER going to be a situation whereby they would have to give both is at all helpful.

[toni796]

I really would just stick to the panadol. Only 1 of my kids have ever had nurofen and that was DS1 when he was sick in February and was only under the advice from the Dr. No way would I ever give nurofen without Dr's advice and for long periods of time.

[BreakfastatTiffanys]

[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry, but I disagree. Sometimes (very rarely) its necessary to give two drugs - even to a baby - at the same time. There are very good reasons why a baby might require BOTH panadol and nurofen, given that one is a pain relieving medication and the other is an anti-inflammatory medication. To say that their livers can't handle it is misleading. Certainly if the meds were to be given without medical advice, or for long periods of time, then this would pose added risks. I don't believe in giving babies or children unnecessary medications either - but I don't think that misinforming parents and telling them that there is NEVER going to be a situation whereby they would have to give both is at all helpful.[/QUOTE]

:iagree: When ds1 was very sick with a bacterial infection in his blood, both panadol and nurofen were administered by the ER Dr. It was the only thing that would bring his temp down from 42c. DD1 is also the same in that panadol seems to do nothing for her, with either pain or fever. Nurofen has its place, and I do agree that you should at least talk to your pharmacist if you cant get to the doctor before giving it to your child. I dont think Nurofen is the problem, the over medicating is.

[millymoo]

Personally I would try to avoid panadol and nurofen for teething but that's just my choice. DS1 teethed for 12 months before producing his first tooth at 17 months and then cross cut. I used Bonjella or chemist brand teething gels back then as Brauer's wasn't heard of and we managed with a lot of patience and lots of cuddles.

Good luck with whatever you choose and I hope it works.

:hugs:
CC

Thanks...i am also glad and not to get too off topic to hear of other late teeth and cross cutting. As despite the lack of pain relief needed I have been concerned as to where her teeth are!

The advise in here is fabulous and warning to look out for too. I will certainly be buying the Brauers as seems very popular.

I note the full tummy for Ibuprofen products too and this will be another reason to avoid it. Amelia is a very small eater and so I can`t ever guarantee a full tummy.:(

[AliyahBlake]

All medications, whether they are homeopathic (like Brauers) or synthetic (like nurofen and panadol) carry risks and side effects as every persons chemical and physical make up is different.

I have used all three of these medications on my kids with no problems, but I make sure I always use as directed.

I know most people are bagging Nurofen, but if used in the right context and very carefully it can be very effective - it brings my kids' fevers down much quicker than panadol!

Everyone also needs to be aware that Panadol isn't the safest drug around either - it can cause major liver and kidney damage if used too much or for too long.

I have on occassion used nurofen (which lasts 6-8 hrs) and in between used panadol, but would never give them at the exact same time as I think it's too much for a little body to handle.

In the end, it's entirely up to the individual as to what works and what is safe - I think if you use them strictly as directed there should'nt be too many problems.

[Silvana]

:iagree:. Particularly when you also mentioned "natural". Just because something is "natural" does not mean it is safe. In fact, they don't have to be scientifically proven that they are safe or if they even work.

Anything is dangerous when abused. However, when DD is in pain and needs relief I will give it to her. I have never given any drug on an empty stomach because that is common sense. In fact, paracetomol is just as dangerous on an empty stomach as ibuprofen.

[Mummaholic]

My son has used Nurofen on occasion when panadol is just not doing the trick, we found it worked well for teething.

He has not suffered any ill effects.

[~Temet Nosce~]

all I know is my dd has just woken up from a nice long 2 hour pain and fever free nap which she so badly needed- and is a happy little bubba again for the moment. So nurofen has helped her and thats all I care about at the moment.

I just dont agree with people who shove it in their gobs at first sign of irritability.

The lady at the chemist tried to tell me to get panadol too and dose them together, I was like no thanks I dont like to do that, so she huffed and was like 'well its perfectly safe if you want releif just do it' :rolleyes: um yeah lady thanks, just let me pay for the friggen nurofen and Ill be on my way..

[BreakfastatTiffanys]

all I know is my dd has just woken up from a nice long 2 hour pain and fever free nap which she so badly needed- and is a happy little bubba again for the moment. So nurofen has helped her and thats all I care about at the moment.

I just dont agree with people who shove it in their gobs at first sign of irritability.

The lady at the chemist tried to tell me to get panadol too and dose them together, I was like no thanks I dont like to do that, so she huffed and was like 'well its perfectly safe if you want releif just do it' :rolleyes: um yeah lady thanks, just let me pay for the friggen nurofen and Ill be on my way..

I hope your little dd is feeling better this afternoon :hugs: :hugs: :hugs:

[tootiredtosleep]

I didnt read all the thread, so might be repeating someone ...

We have childrens panadol and nurofen in our house.

Nurofen is used only when DD has something in her tummy, so usually after dinner, before bed when she has a temp. 8 hours relief is great.

Panadol is used in the middle of the night (when she hasn't just eaten) or during the day when she has a temp, so I can see what happens before she goes to bed, and not have to wait 8 hours.

[Pixie]

Oh well I never :D
I give neurofen over panadol any day don't like the fact panadol has artifical sweeteners in it.

I also found it works better for Eliza.

[Ky]

I give my DD (7yo) nurofen as a relief for migraine. It dilates the blood vessels in her brain and if her migraine is caught early enough and her prescribed dose (almost twice recommended) is given, then we can avoid two days of screaming, pain and vomiting!

Panadol has never done anything for her ... I give nurofen on her paediatricians advice and only after she had several tests and a CT scan.

I try to avoid all medication as much as possible ... ice cold carrot sticks wrapped in muslin are very soothing for teething, cucumber is really great and letting them play with and suck on ice works too. Not only are these natural remedies, but they are full of nutrients into the bargain!

As for fever ... well, don't get me started! Exhaust all ways of getting the fever down before reaching for a medicine bottle! Strip the child naked if necessary, tepid bath, damp facecloths etc and if the fever isn't coming down (and it doesn't have to been instant - fever has a purpose!) then try a dose of medicine at slightly below the stated age/weight dose.

Medicines taste too good these days and kids ask for them all of the time. When it tasted bad, we would do anything we could to get out of taking it!

I find that a dose of honey and vinegar (mixed 1Tbsp honey + ½ tsp malt vinegar) chases away most sore throats etc in no time ;) Even works for my DH :p

[Sheer Bliss]

I avoid it as much as I can (i still have the same bottle we bought when DD was 6months, have only used it once or twice when really desperate.

Apart from the stomach ulcers (which if taken on a full stomach shouldn't be an issue) i spoke to my Dr about piggybacking with panadol, and he said his personal opinion was that neurofen should rarely be given to children. It was originally designed to help treat arthritis, just a fluke that it also helped with some of the things that panadol is taken for. He also said that as far as he was aware it was marketed for children a short time after it was marketed for adults, and he fears that the long term effect on children was not known, so when there is an alternative that does pretty much the same job (now i know it can be effective where panadol isn't) you are better off to stick to the safer alternative.

DS has never had it - with his reflux, I can't be confident of a full stomach, so we won't be going there. Also I don't like to give too many drugs, i stick to ice in the sassy teether/feeder when his gums seem to be a bit swollen/sore.

ETA: where the dr said it should rarely be given to children, i assume he said rarely as there are some cases (where some of you have said 'on paeds/dr's advice) so I am not bagging you using it in those circumstances, i just don't think it's an appropriate first choice, everyday painkiller for all to use.

[Tam-I-Am]

Apart from the stomach ulcers (which if taken on a full stomach shouldn't be an issue)

That's actually not necessarily true :) I get gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining - one of the steps before the development of an ulcer) from nurofen - no matter HOW I take it - full stomach or otherwise. It USUALLY prevents harm, it certainly lessens the risks, but there are some people who are, unfortunately, susceptible to the side effects of a medication, no matter how many precautions they take.

[Missus S]

I read an article in Medical Observer written by Dr Kerryn Phelps about her concerns re Children's Nurofen.

Nurofen is in the same class of drugs (NSAID'S) as Vioxx & Prexige which are 2 drugs that were taken off the market over the last few years due to some serious adverse events.

She's extremely uncomfortable with the fact that Children's Nurofen is being aggressively marketed to parents whilst the drug still has no long term safety data.