|
Post by Chester on Oct 31, 2006 17:01:56 GMT -5
I gave JT some cough medicine yesterday before school. This is the first time he's ever had it. His teacher yesterday said that JT had a hard time keeping his hands to himself and even hurt some of his friends by scratching and hitting. Not typical JT behavior. He was back to normal today.
Anyone have any experience with cough medicine and the side effect of being grouchy?
Dawn
|
|
|
Post by momofrussell on Nov 2, 2006 8:40:21 GMT -5
Well, I think any of that stuff can do that... cough meds and sinus/congestion meds can cause irratability... but do you think he also just wasn't feeling well?
A.
|
|
|
Post by Chester on Nov 2, 2006 16:35:45 GMT -5
Hmmm, it didn't even cross my mind that maybe he felt crummy. He was acting perfectly "normal' at home, just a cough. Maybe he wasn't feeling good.
I'm half tempted to give him a dose of cough syrup so I can see if it makes him grouchy, but I'm not CRAZY! Who wants to deal with that. Hopefully we're done with the cough now.
Dawn
|
|
|
Post by meghans_mom on Nov 3, 2006 19:52:54 GMT -5
what cough medicine was it?
|
|
|
Post by Kristin on Nov 4, 2006 0:55:00 GMT -5
Clarice does not do well on Robitussin PE. It may have been the sudafed. It used to make her hyper and increased the temper tantrums. It is now made without it, but I haven't tried the new one. She gets touchy because the antihistimine also makes her drowsy. I have the same problem, too. Once she turned 4 she needed less of the over the counter meds. She still takes Zyrtec and singulair at night and those seem to keep her hayfever and asthma under control.
|
|
|
Post by andrewsmom on Nov 4, 2006 11:52:57 GMT -5
Funny this topic should come up. While we were in the hospital with Andrew, a doctor from Children's Hospital in Boston was called in to evaluate him. She was AWESOME!!! We were having trouble with Andrew's sedation. They had to keep uping it and he still wasn't staying sadated enough while on the vent...kicking, thrashing, etc. Well...this doctor came in and told us that sometimes medications can have an opposite effect on children with DS. Even tylenol can some times cause hyperactivity and grumpiness. She changed the sedative 2 times (to find the one that would work best for Andrew). Worked like a charm!! No more uping his meds, or giving him extremely high doses of a med that wasn't going to work.
I talked for a long time with this doctor and told her how greatful we were. I had noticed in the past that if Andrew had a cold I COULD NOT give him any med at night because I knew he would be up every 20 minutes all night long. He will actually get a better nights sleep if I don't give him any meds at night at all, only durring the day. She said she had no reason why this occurs but has seen and heard this many times before.
Sorry this is so long but after having my conversation with this doctor I can totally see how a med...even cough med....could effect a child with DS this way. Interesting...isn't it?
-Trisha
|
|
|
Post by mommygwen on Nov 5, 2006 21:04:49 GMT -5
A long time ago the ped. suggested I try new meds at home during the day and watch closely for my child's reaction.
Antihistamines can make young children hyper. Most often they make people sleepy, but some times with young kids it makes them hyper. The Dr. said they typically outgrow this.
Also steroids can cause great irritability ('roid rage). Or, in my son's case, HOURS of crying.
I'm sure any individual can react poorly to a drug.
|
|
|
Post by Chester on Nov 5, 2006 22:39:49 GMT -5
Very interesting Trisha and all! I like having this type of info stored in the back of my brain.
The day I gave him the cough med. was the only day he was grabbing and wrestling down kids around him.
I gave him Delsym, cough suppressant for children. The active ingredient is dextromethorphan polistirex. We use over the counter meds very sparingly, this was the first time he's ever had any cough med.
Dawn
|
|
|
Post by meghans_mom on Nov 6, 2006 14:33:26 GMT -5
actually meds like codeine, antihistamines and decongestants can have the opposite effect on *any* child, not just a child with DS.
not sure about the reaction to the delsym. the dextromethorphan is usually has very few side effects...but it could be because it was long acting vs. the short acting formula...or any number of things. laurie
|
|