Alvedon for children?

My son is having a tonsillectomy on wednesday.

I am concerned because he refuses calpol, and if I do manage to get it in his mouth, he gags and vomits it back. He will however take nurofen. Now, when he has his surgery he will need to take both paracetamol and ibuprofen and I know I am going to have real problems getting him to take the paracetamol/calpol.

I read on a forum about Alvedon which is a paracetamol suppository for children who cannot take liquid/tab forms. I have googled it and found that it is £20 for 10 suppositories:eek:

Anyone have any experience of Alvedon and whether they have managed to get it on prescription??

Many thanks

Sue
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  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 47,118 Forumite
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    How old is he? Is he old enough to swallow a tablet?

    And have you asked at the hospital about this?

    And have you tried alternatives to Calpol? Mine never had it, I always bought Disprol as it was cheaper, and don't most of the pharmacy chains do their own version which he might prefer?
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  • Hi

    He is 7 years old. I have spent a fortune over the years buying every version of paracetomol including the melting sweet type.

    I did tell the hospital that he wont have calpol etc but they just said he will like theirs as it is vanilla flavour.

    I will phone my gp today to see if they are willing to do a prescription just to get him over this surgery.

    Thanks again

    Sue
  • My daughter ecently had hers out. They gave her a suppositorie while she was in theatre. Have you been told to take your own pain relief onto the ward we were our hospital wont give children pain relief post surgery?
    Have you been onto the ward for a look around yet? maybe you could ask then or phone the ward?
    Good luck my DD looked fine and was allowed home 4 hours later but was poorly the next day
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  • Yes, we went to the pre-op last thursday and did mention it to the nurse who took his history about him not liking paracetomol, but it was brushed over really.

    We were not told to bring in our own meds, but I will take some in just in case. They did say they wouldnt let him home if he wasnt eating and taking his pain medicine. I just want this to go as smoothly as possible.

    Sue
  • lynnexxxo
    lynnexxxo Posts: 1,213 Forumite
    My son also refused to take Calpol and I asked the doctor for Alvedon on prescription. First time they said yes no probs and I got them, second time I asked the doc said that she didn't think it was appropriate and made me feel like a monster for suggesting using suppositories!

    I would ask, although at seven could you not bribe him?

    Ps I have also bought them and I think they were £15 for 10 !!
  • I have bribed, cajoled, you name it I have done it. He genuinely just feels so nauseated by it, I may only manage to get half a spoon down.

    I googled Alvedon last night and spoke to a pharmacist this morning who said they cost £20.26 for 10!! I faxed a letter first thing to my gp asking for a prescription, so will follow it up later.

    Thanks for all your replies

    WSue
  • aliasojo
    aliasojo Posts: 23,053 Forumite
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    I did tell the hospital that he wont have calpol etc but they just said he will like theirs as it is vanilla flavour.

    Laughable really.

    My daughter is the same, as soon as she swallows Calpol, it's back up in seconds. Been like this since birth and she's 10 now, Nurofen is all she can tolerate.

    She was in hospital when she was very young and the nurse pooh poohed me when I said Calpol makes her sick. She clearly thought 'oh that's just a kid playing up for Mum'. She gave her it and sure as heck, seconds later it was all over the nurse's uniform. I have to admit to feeling a certain sense of justice. ;)

    If she were ever to go into hospital now, I would be much more forceful about making it clear there is a problem and not allowing her to have it, regardless of what the nurses/docs said. There are plenty of alternatives, there's no need to cause any further distress to the child simply through an unsuitable pain med.

    I hope it all goes as smoothly as possible for your son OP.
    Herman - MP for all! :)
  • Well, I have great news. I have just spoke to the receptionist at my gp's office and she has confirmed a prescription has been done for the suppositries:j

    I am so relieved as this has been my biggest concern.

    Thanks for all your advice.


    Sue
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 47,118 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    At 7, he may be old enough to swallow tablets or caplets. I'm not suggesting that now is the time to start, mind, as just after a tonsillectomy I imagine getting anything down could be a struggle!

    Maybe when he's recovered you could give that a try. However, do 'hang the expense' and go for either caplets or the little plastic capsules because they are SO much easier to swallow, and massive paracetamol tablets taste vile! Boots do a pot of very nice small caplets, which I find great, as they seem smaller than the generic ones you get in strips. And they're in a childproof pot (may not for a 7 year old!).
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  • When I had my tonsils out about 5 years ago, I could not swallow at all.

    The GP said that, as aspirin and ibuprofen were unlikely to help wound healing, the best thing I could do was gargle with soluble paracetamol (or cocodamol as I was already getting it on prescription). Vile though it was, it gave me some relief.

    Maybe if DS can learn to gargle at the bathroom sink this could be considered?
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