Medicines for Colds/Coughs

[Sascot]

Hi everyone, haven't updated for a while. Things are going fine with both kids and I've enjoyed not having any hospital visits! :thumleft:
Just a quick question - Andrew has managed to get a bad cold - snotty nose, sore head, feeling tired/yucky. Is it ok to give normal cold meds like sudafed or flu/cold capsules. I am always worried about triggering his tummy and was wondering if it's "safe" to just give the normal things that I would take if I was sick with a cold/flu. I have given paracetamol, but that doesn't clear the nose.
Hope there are some having a good new year so far and lots of hugs for those who are not!

 

[upsetmom]

I usually give my daughter cold and flu tablets...i asked the pharmacist and he said it was ok for her to take them.

 

[dodie74]

When kian had cold i just gave him calpol and used a karvol plug in at night in his room which helped lots. what about the kids otrivin drops for the blocked nose? just make sure that would be ok too though. ohhh its awful having a blocked up nose, hope he feels better soon. xx

 

[Patricia56]

Don't know what meds he's on so it's a little hard to say for sure.

Things that are pretty much always safe are:

acetaminophen
saline nose spray/drops
salt mouth rinse for sore throats
steaming - we use a table top steamer that fits over your nose/mouth and works great, better than most OTC meds to help open up blocked noses
room humidifier

Our docs let us use diphenhydramine (benadryl) for lots of things but discourage it's use for colds. Here they say it's better not to dry things up but to keep them moist so the mucus can flow out. This is supposed to prevent things like sinus infections.

Whether it's OK to do sudafed is something I would check with h is doctor about. That can interact with a lot of meds and has lots of systemic effects that might not be good for your particular kids.

Of course check anything to make sure you avoid ibuprofen.

Hope they feel better soon.

 

[rygon]

Ive just seen the doc due to a long standing cough and was told just to drink plenty of water and have a couple of paracetamols a day. Reading the internet it seems cough mixture doesnt really do anything to help, and lemsip is just an expensive paracetamol (but I do love the taste).

Ive heard gargling salt water helps with coughs and sore throats, and apart from that im just having hot water with a slice of lemon for comfort and get a bit of vit c in me

 

[polly13]

I give Lucy calpol and/or nurofen never had any problems hope he feels better soon

 

[Tesscorm]

Hope Andrew's feeling better soon!!!

For cough and/or chest congestion... Do you have Vick's Vapo-rub over there? This is usually what I use at home and I find it works better than most cough syrups! I apply a bit to the chest, back and throat (but for external use only!!).

http://www.vicks.ca/products/vapo-family/

 

[Jmrogers4]

We are in the same boat here. Jack has an awful cold/cough. We do the Vicks vapo rub as well. seems to help the most with cough/cold. I did give him some cold/cough medicine. His ped who has UC said it was okay but push lots of fluids. he also says a nice warm bath or steamy shower makes him feel better. Hope he is feeling better soon

 

[Trysha]

Steam opens the airways.
Fresh squeezed lemons with lots of honey are very good for the immune system.,and soothing.
Another good remedy is to slice spanish onion or other sweet onions and cover with golden syrup.
Allow to steep, preferably overnight and then use the syrup. Always helped us as kids .,especially with whooping cough (pertussis) no vaccines in those days...
Trysha

 

[Sascot]

Thanks everyone. Have stuck to paracetamol and nose spray. Always nervous of the Vicks vapour rub as he does tend towards a wheeze and it always made my chest feel wheezy.

 

[my little penguin]

If he wheezes check with his doc.
Both my kids have asthma - we are not to give any over the meds due to asthma per our doc.
We do have to give albuterol with colds .

Hugs

 

[DustyKat]

We use cold and flu tablets, nose spray and Vicks Vaporub. I also use what we call a chesty from when I was a kid. I see you don't really want to use vapour rub but if you do use it rub into their chest and then pop an old nappy in the microwave, warm it up and then lay that over their chest. Probably does bugger all but it feels good!

I hope things soon settle for him, poor love. :hug: Good luck!

Dusty. xxx