Parenting Forums

Posted: 05 May 2007 at 8:59pm | IP Logged

My 16mth old still wakes in the night sometimes upto 6 times I have been told to give him pheagon but have never heard of this and cant find much abouth it on net has anyone heard or used it before, Im desperate !!!!

Lyn

Posted: 05 May 2007 at 9:24pm | IP Logged

Could you have misheard and it's phenergan that you've been advised?

This is a strong anti-histamine that can also be used as a travel sickness remedy or a sedative. My second son, Noah, was a very poor sleeper and I had a lot of people (especially of my mother's generation) telling me to go and buy this to make him sleep. Now, until about 10 years ago, you could buy it over the counter for this very reason. However, the law has now changed, and you can only buy it over the counter as an antihistamine for children over 5. Children under that age have to have it prescribed (my oldest was prescribed it when he has a bad lot of exzema that was keeping him awake as he was scratching it) and this is for a very good reason as it does have side effects and young children need to be closely monitored.

If you've tried 'sleep techniques' like controlled crying, then please go to see your GP before buying an over the counter sedative. Noah was nearly 2 before he slept through on a regular basis so I really do know how soul destroying it is, but medication may not be the answer, it all depends on individual circumstances. A friend of mine had very bad post natal depression and a child who didn't sleep, and her GP did prescribe a light sedative for the child, but under closely monitored conditions. Some GPs will also refer you to sleep clinics, which are specialist clinics to help you to deal with sleep problems in children. Help is available if you ask your GP for it, and if you don't get a sympathetic doctor, go see another one or have a good talk with your hv. Good luck, Rachel x

Posted: 05 May 2007 at 9:42pm | IP Logged

Thanks for such a quick response, i had heard it was banned in the 70's my mum hadnt heard of it at all I have a husband who will not leave him to cry and settle himself "in case he is uncomfy or cold" which i was really annoyed about as I know this is probably the answer I was look for advice about medicine before id give it to him as thought it might be addictive he is teething too had 4 molars in 2 weeks so that maybe the reason behind it too so I will ride it out for a while i think.

Thanks again

Lyn

Posted: 05 May 2007 at 9:50pm | IP Logged

I haven't used it on my children but Keiths (my partner) Mum used it on him.  He had a very bad chest when he was little and he was on Phenergan for 3yrs as it's an antihistamine.  His Mum at the time didn't realise it helped him sleep too until she stopped giving it to him and he became a normal 3yr old got up early and didn't want to go to bed.

I think it is quite difficult to get it prescribed now adays and like 3smallboys says you need a good sympathetic dr to listen to you.  Failing that as he is teething and is probably in some pain you could try Medised which is a milder anti histamine as well as paracetamol.  If he is not settling due to his teeth it might just help him to reduce the pain and get off to sleep.  Personally I wouldn't give it to my children just to make them sleep but whilst they were teeting it was a godsend and helped loads.

Posted: 07 May 2007 at 8:31am | IP Logged

Hi, thats weird cause here in the US we have phenergan for nausea..i give to the patients after surgery etc...maybe its a different name..phenergan here is the trade name and not the generic..sorry, i just thought it would be odd..and i took it during pregnancy from me vomitting all day LOL...so woops, it must be a different med you are talking about.

Posted: 07 May 2007 at 1:20pm | IP Logged

Joshua was prescribed Phenergan a couple of years ago, he was about 2 years old. He suffers with night terrors, and at the time he was having these for periods of 4 hours per night, sometimes twice a night. Although he was asleep he wasnt settled, he was screaming and fitting. This was prescribed to sedate him and help him go into a deep sleep quicker to avoid the period of sleep that causes these night terrors (usually the light sleep stage within the first 20 minutes). I dont believe this medicine worked with Joshua, although the night terrors did reduce in length. With the GP we reduced his dosage and weaned him off the medication because it wasnt helping his respiritory complications at the time.

I wouldnt give your child any sedative medication without consulting your doctor.