Taking all cough and cold medicines
By dustinnikki
@dustinnikki (301)
United States
October 8, 2008 12:56pm CST
I sae on the news a few times this past week that they are wanted to take all cough and cold medicines off the shelves because they don't think any child under age 11 should have them. The main reason behind them has been that parents give to much to their kids even by accident. Some of the ingredients are the same in others and they give them 2 or 3 different kinds making them overdose.
I see the point but I only give my kids one kind and I go by what the doctor says. They also say that they really don't do anything but the kind that I buy always helped my kids. It is very difficult to get my kids to the doctor even for a cold. After a week, still not getting to the doctor, I have to take them to the emergency room just so they can get treatment if it hasn't turned into something worse by then.
Like I said, I understand the reasoning but why should our kids suffer and get worse waiting on seeing thier doctor? Why should they have to wait until that little cold turn into something more serious? Don't they think that some people may start buying adult type medications and giving their kids half doses to help them? I wouldn't do that but I'm sure some people would. Some people don't have healthcare even for their kids so they can't even go to a doctor. What are your thoughts on this?
1 response
@autismmom2 (155)
• United States
9 Oct 08
Cold medicines are not going to stop an ilness from getting worse or turning into something else. I've never given my kids any cold medicines. The only over the counter medicines they take are Zyrtec for allergies, benadryl for allergic reactions, melatonin for sleep, and tylenol for fevers. A cold is not a big deal for my daughter, and it runs it's course. When my son gets a cold he usually ends up on oral steroids due to asthma. No cough and cold medicine is going to do anything to help him.
Not all people have a hard time getting to the regular Dr either. I can call my kids' doctor when we're driving in if something serious has happened. There are also urgent care centers for emergencies that don't need a hospital visit.
Someone, somewhere is always going to use a product wrong. Even now with childrens' cold medicines available, I'm sure there are plenty of people already giving their kids adult medicines.
It wouldn't affect me either way.
1 person likes this
@dustinnikki (301)
• United States
9 Oct 08
Glad to hear that you do not have a problem. Where we are at on the other hand, doctors are very hard to come by and if yuo have one, it's very difficult to get into see your doctor. We are going through a tough time finding a new doctor because our kids' doctor left. I have only found one doctor that is accepting new patients is 3 hours away and is unacceptable.
I do not have to option for an urgent care either since they closed down the one that we had nearby. My only option is the emergengy room. Both my kids need their colds taken care of imediately because they both have allergies and their colds turn into something so much worse. I had to rush my son into the hospital one time and it was not fun. Thier doctor told me to use children's tylenol cold medicine and after only 2 days, they are fine.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I am really happy you do not have to go through all that! I agree that somewhere someone is using a product wrong as is why I understand what they are doing. People even share prescriptions too which is also just as bad if not worse!
@autismmom2 (155)
• United States
13 Oct 08
I wouldn't think that allergies would make a cold progress. Asthma on the other hand would cause more issues. Mine has asthma which is why he would have a cold checked out by a doctor. Have you had your kids checked for asthma? It may be worth looking into.
1 person likes this
@dustinnikki (301)
• United States
13 Oct 08
They both have severe seasonal allergies. Even though they take their allergy meds they can still have their allergy symptoms break through when they have a cold making it worse. With allergies their bodies can't fight off things very well. There have been a few doctors explaining that with the allergies this bad, things like this can happen. When they get colds, they can get pretty bad if it's not taken care of.
If it gets that bad, I always take them to the emergengy room. It's not that they can't breathe when this kind of thing happens--it's that they are so congested they can't breathe because all the stuff that is in their chest. Thankfully it has only happened a couple of times. My daughter was worse and has been through it more than my son but they don't have asthma. My daughter hasn't had much of a problem with it the last year or so and seems to be growing out of it.
