[SPLIT] - Medised (was tips for travelling...)

I'm going to get some Medised for the youngest just in case for once we are back.

Just a quick note: you can no longer buy Medised for any child under the age of 6 (and any pharmacy that sells it for a child under 6 is breaking the law and could cause the pharmacist on duty to be struck off), so if you want to give something like that to your youngest, you'll have to see if your doctor will prescribe it for them.

See:

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Safetywarningsalertsandrecalls/Safetywarningsandmessagesformedicines/CON038908

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/mar/01/child-cold-medicine-recommendations

http://www.medimums.co.uk/products/ and http://www.medimums.co.uk/faqs/Under12s.aspx (Medised website)

Disclaimer: I work in a pharmacy and have been having to deal with these new regulations (and annoyed customers wondering why they can't buy the products for their young children) for the past 9 months.

Just a quick note: you can no longer buy Medised for any child under the age of 6 (and any pharmacy that sells it for a child under 6 is breaking the law and could cause the pharmacist on duty to be struck off), so if you want to give something like that to your youngest, you'll have to see if your doctor will prescribe it for them.

See:

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Safetywarningsalertsandrecalls/Safetywarningsandmessagesformedicines/CON038908

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/mar/01/child-cold-medicine-recommendations

http://www.medimums.co.uk/products/ and http://www.medimums.co.uk/faqs/Under12s.aspx (Medised website)

Disclaimer: I work in a pharmacy and have been having to deal with these new regulations (and annoyed customers wondering why they can't buy the products for their young children) for the past 9 months.

Yeah, I know.  This 'law' is actually a guideline, and it was put in place because 'women' are too stupid to read directions.

But hey, I know that, and well, I buy it anyway.  I could get it prescribed because then it would be free, but you know, I can't be bothered and it's just as easy to say, 'Yep, it's for a 6-year-old' and then they sell it to me and well, I'm intelligent enough to know how to use it.

Yeah, I know.  This 'law' is actually a guideline,

It is a law, not just a guideline - by law, all medicines must have a product licence stating how the medicine can be used and what ages it is suitable for, and it is against the law to sell a medicine outside of its product licence (i.e. to sell hydrocortisone for use on the face or to someone under 10 years old). The product licence for Medised (and the licences for all other behind the counter children's cough/cold medicines) now states that it must not be given to anyone under the age of 6 and so if I (as a healthcare advisor) sell Medised for a child under 6, I am breaking the law and the pharmacist on duty can be struck off.

Having said that, the product licence for Medised changed from 3 months+ to 2 years+ in March 2008, so even if the age hadn't changed to 6 this year, it would still have been illegal to sell it for a 17-month-old anyway.

However, medicine prescribed by the doctor is not subject to OTC licencing laws, so by getting it from the doctor, you know it's being prescribed safely, you're not lying about who it's for, the pharmacist is not breaking any licencing laws by selling it to you... and you get it for free.

It is a law, not just a guideline - by law, all medicines must have a product licence stating how the medicine can be used and what ages it is suitable for, and it is against the law to sell a medicine outside of its product licence (i.e. to sell hydrocortisone for use on the face or to someone under 10 years old). The product licence for Medised (and the licences for all other behind the counter children's cough/cold medicines) now states that it must not be given to anyone under the age of 6 and so if I (as a healthcare advisor) sell Medised for a child under 6, I am breaking the law and the pharmacist on duty can be struck off.

Having said that, the product licence for Medised changed from 3 months+ to 2 years+ in March 2008, so even if the age hadn't changed to 6 this year, it would still have been illegal to sell it for a 17-month-old anyway.

However, medicine prescribed by the doctor is not subject to OTC licencing laws, so by getting it from the doctor, you know it's being prescribed safely, you're not lying about who it's for, the pharmacist is not breaking any licencing laws by selling it to you... and you get it for free.

Whatever.  It's easy enough to buy it and get it oneself. 

If DH gets round to picking it up when he gets his mega dose patch for the trip then hey ho.

Otherwise, I've already got it in stock.

I was around when they changed the rules and know why.  I don't need a lecture.

I don't think a lecture was being given. I think information about the facts were being presented...maybe you know all the information and making an informed decision. When something is posted in a forum there are many who read it and may not know all the information. Personally I am glad that the information has been passed on so others can make an informed decision and if they are looking to use this for a child under six they can have a conversation with their doctor about it.

I apologise - I wasn't meaning to lecture... actually, I wasn't going to reply at all, but it was eating at me overnight and as the sale of Medised is something I am responsible for at work on a daily basis, I wanted to clarify the laws that pharmacies are bound by when it comes to medicine sales - it's not just a case of some people not reading directions, the ingredients in some of these medicines have side effects and may or may not work effectively (there's currently no scientific research to back up their effectiveness) and so have been deemed unsuitable to give to young children unless under doctor's supervision... and pharmacy staff have to adhere to the new regulations, including advising parents not to give those medicines to their young children.

if I (as a healthcare advisor) sell Medised for a child under 6, I am breaking the law and the pharmacist on duty can be struck off.

Just curious - how would you or the pharmacist be responsible if the customer tells you they're buying it for a child over 6? Do you have to ask for some sort of proof of age?

Just curious - how would you or the pharmacist be responsible if the customer tells you they're buying it for a child over 6? Do you have to ask for some sort of proof of age?

No, we can't ask for proof of age and we can't actually turn around and say 'I don't think you're telling me the truth'... so ultimately it is the customer's decision to lie and there's not much we can do about it if they say it's for a child over 6 (similarly when people come in regularly for co-codamol but say it's for their mum/dad/sister/overseas relative, when it's kind of obvious it's for themselves). We would hope though that by giving the customer all the information we can about why the medicine regulations have changed that they will take this into account and make an informed decision about whether they should really be giving it to their child.

Unfortunately there is still an issue with some GPs and hospital staff not being aware of the licencing changes to these OTC medicines and so they may recommend the customer comes into buy Medised for their young child. However, because we are bound by the OTC licencing laws, we cannot give it to them unless the doctor has written a prescription for it .

Do you ever find that medised makes your kids EXTREMELY hyperactive (rather like Benedryl does to some kids) rather than making them sleepy???

I too love(d) medised when my son was a baby teetching or with a cold, but I find after he turned one, it didn't work as well as it did when he was an infant (when it wasn't for the over six club)

Good luck!




MOD NOTE: OFF TOPIC & CONTENTIOUS REMARKS REMOVED

Yes I had that problem Racheeee. Another Mum recommended Medised to me when Ethan was teething.  I tried it and he was up and down all flipping night!