Medical question: What's your favorite kid's decongestant?

[Stacey in MA]

My DD has a cold, but is generally a touch congested anyway (allergies). Her cold during the day right now is just moderate, but once she's in bed laying down, and even into sleep, she is soooo "drippy". She coughs so very much, and have bouts of apnea along with it. I can hear a lot of loose stuff gurgling in her throat as she breathes. It literally sounds like she is gargling with water! So I'm guessing that it's nasal and sinus mucus, going down her throat, ending up gagging her (hence coughing), or into her lungs (again, coughing trigger). Thing is, it seems like NOTHING touches this problem. I've tried so many different types of meds. I just want the poor kid to get a good night's sleep! Any suggestions? What cold meds do you give your kids when they are sick.

 

FWIW, I am going to call the Dr. tomorrow, and perhaps bring her in, but thought I would probe your collective experience too!

 

Thanks! - Stacey in MA

[Shenan]

I have had the best luck with Vick's Vapor Rub. It opens up air passages, and helps calm the coughing. I also give them Ibuprofen, which not only helps with fever but relaxes them enough to help them sleep. We head to the docs at the first signs of ear infections...

[Laurie]

Children's Benadryl. I give this at night to help dry things up so they can sleep, and during the day if they're really drippy and miserable.

[Aggie]

A netti pot. It seriously has changed our lives around here.

 

I'm just sick (no pun intented!) of giving my dc drugs and the netti pot has worked for all colds and allergy problems so far.

 

But, if you're going to give medicine, get a good decongestant from the doc. Our ped gave one that clears up congestion with two doses. Good stuff. :001_smile:

[klmama]

A netti pot.

 

:iagree: It's made a huge difference for my congested dc.

[sunshine]

what is a netti pot?

[Aggie]

what is a netti pot?

 

It's a little (plastic) tea-pot looking thing. You put salt water in it, then pour it in your nostrils. It sounds horrid, but the results are amazing.

 

You can get one for $10-20 at a drug store. Ours came with packages of salt.

 

We were just doing a nasal flush with salt water and a baby nasal syringe, but the netti pot is so much easier and more pleasant.

[teamturner]

I like Mucinex and they make a version that also has a cough med in it and it lasts longer than just the plain Mucinex. Mucinex just thins the mucus so it doesn't interfer with sleep as much.

 

My ds has used a NeilMed Sinus Rinse and it works like a netti pot but a little easier to use. You just have to fill it up with distilled water and heat it up and then dissolve the solution in it. Once it's mixed and not too hot you just put it to your nostril and gently squeeze the bottle. The allergy/asthma doctor gave it to use. It helps a lot.

 

www.neilmed.com

[tinag]

Once you clear up hear runny nose her cough should go away. It is the post nasal drip that is causing it. We have a Neti pot and love it. If her runny nose is caused by allergies I would try giving her Claritan daily to see if it clears up. I love Claritan because it doesn't cause drowsiness.

[Stacey in MA]

I don't know if I could get my DD to use the neti pot, but I would consider trying! I have indeed tried the Mucinex, and it was the one that worked better than the others, but still not enough relief to sleep right.

 

Anyway, thanks for all the ideas! When I take her in today, I will ask the Dr. for an RX and see what comes of it....

[Haiku]

There have been a lot of news stories recently about how children's cold medicines are not only ineffective for kids but also unsafe for them. If you google it, there are plenty of references. My pediatrician has always discouraged cold medicines, but interestingly, my (adult) doctor recently told me that even my 14 year old should not be taking them.

 

Around here, we use Cold Season Tea by Yogi Tea and a variety of homeopathic remedies, depending on the specific symptoms. You can get these things and information about them at your local health food store.

 

I would also recommend the book Kids, Herbs, and Health by Linda White and Sunny Mavor.

 

Tara

[Danestress]

It's a pain to have to go to the pharmacy for them (they aren't on the shelves anymore because of the meth problem). But in my experience, they are the only decongestant that actually works.

[Tap]

You have to think about what the ingredients do:

 

a decongestant like old otc Sudafed-pseudephedrine or new otc Sudafed-phenylephrine will thin out a stuffy nose and help the mucus come out. This can overdry sinuses. These are the ingredients that are questioned for usage in kids. The FDA recommendation now is to use a saline nasal spray or netti pot instead to rinse out the nasal passages, but you have to do it several times a day. In most states you can still buy it behind the counter for kids over about 6yo (if I remember right).

 

 

an antihistamine will dry up secretions. It stops the bodies reaction that causes the mucus in the first place. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is the strongest but causes drowsiness in most kids (it can have the opposite effect especially in kids under 2). Benadryl is considered the preferred for cold symptoms and other other antihistamines are Chlortrimaton-chlorpheneramine which is the next strongest/less sleepy. Claritin-loratadine which is less strong-and less likely to make them drowsy. Zyrtec-cetirizine wich is usually more effective than Claritin but can cause a little drowsiness. Benadryl, Claritin and Zyrtec are all approved by the FDA for kids usage down to 2 over the counter and under 2 by prescription.

 

a med designed just for cough/ mucus Robitussin and Mucinex. There are different combinations available so you want to watch which one you buy. The regular Mucinex is just guifennisen. It is a med designed to draw fluid into the mucus. This thins it out and helps it to come out. It is used in cough medicines and with decongestants to curb the drying effect from them. Mucinex DM and Robitussin DM also have dextromethorphan added. This is to quiet a cough. A cough medicine called Delsym is a great choice for quieting a cough. It contains just this ingredient in a 12 hour formula and is very effective. These ingredients maybe hard to find in a kids formula because of the FDAs recommendations for young kids. You can talk to the doctor about whether they will be helpful to your daughter or not.

 

If my kiddo had these symptoms, I would give them Benadryl at bedtime. Give them a warm bath to allow the warm air to loosen mucus before bed. If they will let you use a saline nasal spray/netti pot then doing it now can be easier since the bath will relax them. If they don't like water near their nose, you can use AYR gel which is a saline like the saline nasal spray (Ocean is one brand) but is a gel instead of a liquid. You can put it around the inside of the nose with a q-tip and then is slowly drips back as they are laid down. You can get the cough/mucus meds in liquid form in the cough med section. I only use mucus loosening cough med in kids if they are gagging or having a very hard time with the mucus. I will use Delsym to quiet a dry cough. I also would use a humidifier and either prop the kid up at night or prop up the legs of the bed if possible to elevate the head.

 

 

I hope this helps you to understand what you are looking at in cold meds for kids and that you little one feels better soon.

Edited December 15, 2008 by Tap, tap, tap

[wide eyes & laughter]

www.redrocknaturals.com

 

I have been using these natural products for a couple years now. They are herbal tinctures and they are wonderful - no worries about damage to my dc's bodies (liver and kidney) like meds (over-used) can do. These products really work!

 

They have forumulas (come in 2oz or 4 oz glass bottles w/droppers) for dry cough, wet cough, allergies, flu, stomach ache, etc. What I love is they can act as a preventative (if taken right at onset of symptoms) or curative (to help get over illness quickly).

 

They ship pretty quickly, too - from Utah.

 

HTH,

Cheryl

[Laurie]

 

. If they don't like water near their nose, you can use AYR gel which is a saline like the saline nasal spray (Ocean is one brand) but is a gel instead of a liquid. You can put it around the inside of the nose with a q-tip and then is slowly drips back as they are laid down.

.

 

Thanks for all the helpful info!

 

I just wanted to add that the AYR gel is a great help if a child is prone to nosebleeds. My ds uses this at bedtime every night.

[AnnetteB]

If she is having episodes of apnea she should see a doctor ASAP! Night time decongestants can suppress breathing efforts and be lethal to asthmatics (like myself). The rattling may indicate that she has bronchitis. The neti pot or other sinus washing method are extremely helpful to keep sinus passages clean, but if there is infection already present she may need an antibiotic. A dinner of hot chicken soup and a steamy shower before bed can all help ease night time coughing and congestion with a mild cold. Be wary of Mucinex and Vapo rubs if your child has allergies or asthma.

[Mommyof4ks]

I like Mucinex and they make a version that also has a cough med in it and it lasts longer than just the plain Mucinex. Mucinex just thins the mucus so it doesn't interfer with sleep as much.

 

 

We use Mucinex too, because my kids HATE the nasal rinses. It works great!

[girligirlmom]

Vitamin C in the form of Ascorbic Acid - 1/2 tsp twice a day, more if tolerated. It's 2000 mg per 1/2 tsp. It really works.

 

We also use homeopathy but you have to find the right remedy.

[rafiki]

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[rafiki]

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[*Inna*]

Vicks Rub, humidifier in their room at night with Vicks Vapo Steam in it works for us.

[cillakat]

So I'm guessing that it's nasal and sinus mucus, going down her throat, ending up gagging her (hence coughing), or into her lungs (again, coughing trigger). Thing is, it seems like NOTHING touches this problem. I've tried so many different types of meds.

 

Sounds like there are two things going on here:

 

1)the chronic post nasal drip

2)the added congestion from the cough

 

 

 

We have that too:) My 9.5 yo has severe environmental and seasonal allergies.

 

She's finally doing immunotherapy (allergy shots) and we're hoping they'll be extremely helpful. She's been using nasal steroids for about 2 years....and they're sometimes helpful, sometimes not (depending on what allergens are around at the time). The key with the nasal steroids is daily use. The simply don't work if they're used randomly. Nasal steroids are veramyst (sp?), rhinocort, nasocort......and i think that's it.

 

She takes claritin occasionally.....without decongestant.....and it's not terribly helpful. Zyrtec is very helpful but it knocks her out. Benedryl....same. We save the benedryl or zyrtec for nighttime when the congestion/post nasal drip is bad. She's tried singulair but apparently isn't her allergies don't have a leukotriene (sp?) component.

 

Sudafed or similar decongestants shouldln't be taken routinely as they can cause blood pressure to rise so we don't use allergy meds containing decongestant and use generic sudafed (regular not 12h) only as needed.

 

Keep in mind that effective decongestants MUST be purchased from behind the pharmacy counter. The will not be on the shelf. The ones on the shelf that say "decongestant" are no more effective than placebo.

 

Nasal lavage/nasal rinsing is very helpful as well.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nasal-lavage/MM00552

 

My dh and kids like the neilmed bottle:

http://www.neilmed.com/usa/products.php

 

I prefer the nasaline:

 

 

:)

Katherine

[LaxMom]

What age dc would you try a Neti Pot with? Dh and I use it, but I've been hesitant to try it with the boys. My oldest is 8?

 

My 7 y.o. uses it... and has for more than a year, I think. I occasionally use it with my boys, who are 4, but they need help staying bent over the sink and working the pot. They don't mind the rinse, but object to being jacked up over the sink a bit.

 

We don't use any pharmaceuticals for colds, but I do use a salve that I make, with garlic and eucalyptus, on the soles of their feet at night when they're congested. (Vapo Rub would work the same way, but the thought of slathering my kids in petroleum products gives me the willies). A warm mist humidifier or steam vaporizer with some eucalyptus oil in the medicine cup works nearly as well.

 

I hope she feels better, soon! Sinus drainage stinks!

[cillakat]

There have been a lot of news stories recently about how children's cold medicines are not only ineffective for kids but also unsafe for them. If you google it, there are plenty of references.

 

It's interesting though how the medical community and media dumbs it down to 'cold medicines' when really the concern is very specific to pseudoephedrine as it has a narrow margin of safety. In other words, it's critical to dose it properly.

 

The main problem occurs when parents unknowingly give to much, usually because they're giving multiple medications for multiple symptoms, inadvertently overdosing the pseudoephedrine.

 

An additional concern, but a significantly smaller one, is giving cough supressant inappropriately (ie when no meds or cough expectorant would be better).

 

Guifenisen (expectorant) is exceptionally safe and has a wide margin of safety.

 

 

The bottom line is that one must be fully aware and knowledgeable regarding individual and combination 'cold' medications, especially those containing decongestants. If one does choose to use them, it's probably best to use only single ingredient meds rather than combination meds.....and short acting rather than extended release.

 

:)

K

[cillakat]

My 7 y.o. uses it... and has for more than a year, I think.

 

Yup....my dd7 has been using it since she was 5.

 

K

[Stacey in MA]

Tap, tap - great explanation of how those meds work - thanks! I didn't realize some of that....

 

I did take her in to the Dr.'s office. She had no ear infection, her lungs sounded clear, and her asthmas wasn't acting up since there was zero wheezing. The dr. said her face looked puffy and she was concerned it was likely a sinus infection. So we went the antibiotic route. DD showed improvement after even just the first dose! Whatever it was, it was an infection... She's still congested, but not waking anymore, so on the mend.

 

Interestingly, Dr. told me that for sinus and nasal symptoms, the warm mist humidifer works best. The cold mist one (which we had) works best for loosening chest congestion. But the warm was good for neck and up (i.e. nasal/sinus). So, I bought a warm mist one, and I think it helped tremendously too. I did also try and keep her propped up, but this is almost impossible with this child, since she normally doesn't even sleep on a pillow! She kept gravitating back to her usual position. She's doing much better now, though.

 

FWIW, I have also found that most OTC cold meds do absolutely nothing. But I took her off of her regular Zyrtec (24hr antihistimine) so I could give her Benedryl (4-6 hr/dose antihistimine which works better but makes one sleepy - which helped her much AND knocked her out!). I also have found Mucinex to have some effect (as a few of you have...). That one ingredient - Gui-something or other - seems to work to some degree. Everything else is just useless.

 

I have found another trick to work for quick relief (partly discovered this with my own cold!). Simply getting the water to run hot, wetting a wash cloth with it and wringing it out, and then laying it over your mouth and nose to breathe in the warm steam. It's instant steam/humidity into your lungs to quickly loosen things up. Trouble is of course that it gets cold pretty quickly, but it's worth a try for a panicking DC in the middle of the night! (Putting your face over a cup of hot tea works similarly).

 

Thanks for all of the help! You guys are a such a great source of support and info! Have a great Friday!

 

- Stacey in MA

[hornblower]

Just released on Dec 18. No OTC cough & cold meds for kids under 6.

 

It's not just psudoephedrine they're concerned about. It's a whole bunch more. The full list of ingredients is here:

 

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2008/2008_184-eng.php

 

 

Do not use these over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children under 6 years of age.

With children older than 6, always follow all the instructions carefully, which includes the dosing and length-of-use directions, and use the dosing device if one is included.

Do not give children medications labelled only for adults.

Do not give more than one kind of cough and cold medicine to a child. Cough and cold medications often contain multiple ingredients. Combining products with the same ingredient(s) could cause an overdose that may result in harm to a child.

 

 

The CBC reports: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/12/18/cough-drugs-children.html

Health Canada is expanding the restriction to age six because it received 124 reports of adverse reactions, 80 of them serious, in children under six from January 1995 to 2008.

 

[cillakat]

"Just released on Dec 18. No OTC cough & cold meds for kids under 6.

 

It's not just psudoephedrine they're concerned about. It's a whole bunch more. The full list of ingredients is here:

 

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media...08_184-eng.php

 

Quote:

 

Do not use these over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children under 6 years of age.

With children older than 6, always follow all the instructions carefully, which includes the dosing and length-of-use directions, and use the dosing device if one is included.

Do not give children medications labelled only for adults.

Do not give more than one kind of cough and cold medicine to a child. Cough and cold medications often contain multiple ingredients. Combining products with the same ingredient(s) could cause an overdose that may result in harm to a child.

The CBC reports: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/...-children.html

Quote:

Health Canada is expanding the restriction to age six because it received 124 reports of adverse reactions, 80 of them serious, in children under six from January 1995 to 2008. "

 

have you read them? virtually all confirmed known cases are involving overdoses, most often b/c parents had given more than one medication containing the active ingredients.

 

again though, as your link shows, side effects are *rare*

 

"In addition, reports of misuse, overdose and rare side-effects have raised concerns about the use of these medicines in children under 6. The rare but serious potential side-effects include convulsions, increased heart rate, decreased level of consciousness, abnormal heart rhythms and hallucinations."

 

Rare. Guifenisen isn't dangerous. Cough supressants can be dangerous *because people don't know when to use them and when not too*.

 

In canada, guifenisen is getting swept up in the labeling thing b/c the government has to label to the lowest common denominator in terms of intelligence.

 

I guess this thread really supports that though. It does seem that it's too complicated for the average consumer to understand what meds are appropriate when, what is dangerous, what isn't, in what dose, and to be able to insure that when giving more than one med, the total dose for each active isn't exceeded.

 

K

[cillakat]

"Just released on Dec 18. No OTC cough & cold meds for kids under 6.

 

It's not just psudoephedrine they're concerned about. It's a whole bunch more. The full list of ingredients is here:

 

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media...08_184-eng.php

 

Quote:

 

Do not use these over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children under 6 years of age.

With children older than 6, always follow all the instructions carefully, which includes the dosing and length-of-use directions, and use the dosing device if one is included.

Do not give children medications labelled only for adults.

Do not give more than one kind of cough and cold medicine to a child. Cough and cold medications often contain multiple ingredients. Combining products with the same ingredient(s) could cause an overdose that may result in harm to a child.

The CBC reports: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/...-children.html

Quote:

Health Canada is expanding the restriction to age six because it received 124 reports of adverse reactions, 80 of them serious, in children under six from January 1995 to 2008. "

 

have you read them? virtually all of the confirmed cases involved overdoses, usually b/c the child was given more than one medication containing the active ingredient inquestion.

 

again though, as your link shows, side effects are *rare*

 

"In addition, reports of misuse, overdose and rare side-effects have raised concerns about the use of these medicines in children under 6. The rare but serious potential side-effects include convulsions, increased heart rate, decreased level of consciousness, abnormal heart rhythms and hallucinations."

 

Rare. Guifenisen isn't dangerous. Cough supressants can be dangerous *because people don't know when to use them and when not too*.

 

In canada, guifenisen is getting swept up in the labeling thing b/c the government has to label to the lowest common denominator in terms of intelligence.

 

I guess this thread really supports that though. It does seem that it's too complicated for the average consumer to understand what meds are appropriate when, what is dangerous, what isn't, in what dose, and to be able to insure that when giving more than one med, the total dose for each active isn't exceeded.

 

K