Phenergan - How Much to Use?

[sebmum]

Hi everyone

We're going on an OS trip in a couple of weeks time and our doctor recommended using some phenergan if needs be to help settle our 18 month old DD (she doesn't have the best track record for sleeping - so a 24 hour flight with time differences at the other end is going to be a challenge....to say the least!!! :().

Anyway, my question is, how much do you give them? My doctor said it was fine balance as sometimes they went the other way.

Can someone who has used it before please give me an idea as to how much they've used on their children. We'd really appreciate the help. I think my doctor forgot to tell us how much. Either that or I've just forgotten as I'm pregnant! :confused:

[sebmum]

Is this a taboo subject??

[Roopee]

I thought Phenergan was only to be used on kids over 2? I think maybe you should double check with the Dr- he/she will also be able to give you the right dosage....best to be safe I think:flowerz:

[forbetoel]

Yes I believe it is a fine balance. I have never had to use it, but a friend has for travelling before on long flights. SOme kids go the opposite way and become hypo and have even more energy.

Speak to your doctor on the best amount.

[sebmum]

I did notice that on the bottle when I bought it, that it was for 2 yrs and up. My doctor knows DD is only 18 months though so I just assumed it was ok. She specialises in children/bubs/mothers issues, so I felt I could trust her. Now I'm confused.

We gave DD 3 mls and it doesn't appear to have done anything to her. Neither hyper nor sleepy. She's just gone to bed at her usual time and all seems ok.

Maybe she's immune to it?!

[Roopee]

Does the bottle have a dosage for age and weight?
If it does- give her the dosage for her weight range?
If the weight and age are different for your DD I would just give her the lesser of the two dosages if that makes sense?

I would still talk to your Dr about it though.

[maydr]

My dd was having trouble sleeping when she was 18 months old due to blocked nose when our gp prescribed phenergan. We were told to give her 5mls before bed time for maximum of 5 days. Same when we went overseas. 5mls on the flight. But, because it said in the bottle that not to be given to 2 years and below, we decided to give her less than the 5mls. We gave just 3mls, and still effective. Hope it helps.

[Jesska08]

Im curious whats Phenergan?

[maydr]

Phenergan is an antihistamine used in the treatment of allergies; to stop nausea and vomiting (http://www.virtualpsychcentre.com/symptoms.asp?sid=8); and for sedation and premedication.

[Jesska08]

oo now i understand the thread :cool:

[sebmum]

Hi Roope....its has for 2-5yrs to use 5-15mls. We thought we'd give her 3 mls as she's only 18 months.

My DR also told me just to use it for the flight and the first day or so OS. Not to keep using it - which we wouldn't do anyway.

My friend's DD (same age) has been sick and it affected her previously OK sleeping so her DR prescribed phenergen for 4 nights only, to get her back on track.

I hope it all works ok! I don't want to do anything bad for my DD.....

[floafernutter]

I would give the maximum dose i woz allowed.

At least it might give me some sanity. :yes:

[diesal444]

I asked my Dr about Phenergan when I was going overseas with my 18 month old and she was very hesitant to prescibe it as it is recommended for children over 2.
I wasnt even sure what it was when I asked her about it, I had just heard people talking about it. She also said what previous posters have said and can have the opposite effect and turn hyper.
We just took our chances that we would survive the flight without it. And of course we did.:)

[sebmum]

I'm really stressing now and I'm going in and checking on DD every 10 mins to make sure she's still breathing and OK! I'm such a worry wart.....

[Beany]

I really don't think it's a good idea to sedate a child on a flight, so far from medical assistance should it become needed (as can be the case with any form of sedation).

[biscotti]

Phenergan has my daughter swinging from the light fittings no matter the dose.

[Pina Colada]

Phenergan has my daughter swinging from the light fittings no matter the dose.

:iagree: My DD is the same. She gets chronic car sickness, and we used it a couple of times on long journeys (and it does stop the car sickness) but she goes spazamataz :p

[Roopee]

I'm really stressing now and I'm going in and checking on DD every 10 mins to make sure she's still breathing and OK! I'm such a worry wart.....
Im sure she will be fine.
I think the reason that they recommend 2 yrs plus is because it can take a while for their liver and/or kidneys to break it down and prolonged use can be harmful (no matter what the age).
BUT if it didnt work tonight to sedate her maybe just try going on the flight and seeing what happens? She may be a dream child? If your out of your mind on the flight and she's not coping then maybe you could give it to her then? Not as a just in case thing?

We all do the best we can...so go with your instinct:flowerz:

[sebmum]

Thanks Roopee......good advice :)

[xkwzit]

I really don't think it's a good idea to sedate a child on a flight, so far from medical assistance should it become needed (as can be the case with any form of sedation).
I would never do this either, no matter what my GP told me.

[Dannielle]

:iagree: My DD is the same. She gets chronic car sickness, and we used it a couple of times on long journeys (and it does stop the car sickness) but she goes spazamataz :p

Same here.

Two of my girls get chronic car sickness too. It does work well for the car sickness but 2 hyper crazy children together in the car isn't much fun.

[elissas]

All this to-ing and fro-ing about whether to use, whether they go hyper, how much to use.

I recommend trying Brauers Calm. It's gentle, homeopathic, can be used from 6 months of age, available at chemists. And it works WONDERS.

It calms them down into their natural pattern, and makes them very relaxed etc without sedating them.

[Sheer Bliss]

We asked our GP about it before we flew to the UK with 5 1/2month old DD. One of the main reasons he said they don't recomend it until after 2, is that it can mask other problems if used before hand. His opinion was that if you constantly need to sedate a child under 2, maybe there was another problem that needed to be addressed, rather than doping the kid up all the time. Also prolonged use could damamge their organs as the couldn't process it.

He said he could write us a script if we wanted but to be aware that it CAN make some kids hyper - from what he explained to us it was a reaction to the drug, not dose related, so if they are going to react in that way, they will do it if you give 2ml or 5ml.

We decided not to risk it, as i didn't want to do a 'trial run' on a 5month old, and didn't want to risk a hyper 5month old mid flight - would have made for a long 23hrs.

It wasn't as bad as we anticipated anyway....the worst moment was take-off after the 2hr re-fuel/stop in Bangkok. We were next to a 4month old baby, and they BOTH took offense to the take-off and the other crying. They both screamed non-stop until the plane levelled out. Only then could i stand with her and walk her up and down the plane until she settled. Horrible, horrible 20minutes, but it is over now, and it wasn't the most memorable part of our trip (FAR from it!!) It's just not worth the risk IMO.

[sja]

Talk to your pharmacist. In my experience they are much more useful for things like appropriate dosages than any GP. They will also be able to tell you all the side effects and the actual risks involved. I find that often GPs will have to look up the info on drug dosages and side effects, so can only tell you what their books tell them, while a pharmacist has a lot more experience, is more up to date with research, has more hands on experience, and will be able to tell you off the top of their head exactly what the deal with a drug is.

[MountainGirl]

havent read the posts,..but,....how bout you head down the natural path before sedating,... Brauers Calm is great stuff,...and has no 'hangover' effects. Phenergan can make a child go the other way,...and can also make them tired and cotton-wooley the next day....kinda like a drug induced hangover.