ADVICE RATING |
  4.22 (Worth a try) from 19 votes (907 Visits) |
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May have a laxative effect. |
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by MumKim  (April 2007) (rank 15th) |
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Generic or no name brand products are often just as good as the real thing only cheaper. Lately here in Australia we have been encouraged to buy generic brand drugs on prescriptions. We are told that they are just the same as the big name brands only cheaper.
I
thought this applied to baby paracetamol. Instead of buying the more expensive ‘Panadol’ brand I bought the cheaper ‘Chemists Own’ version. I checked that the base drug of paracetamol was the same and asked the pharmacy assistant if the two products were the same. I was assured that they were.
THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!
‘Chemists Own’ brand contains sorbitol which according to the packet (if you read the small print on the side) “may have a laxative effect or cause diarrhea”.
I gave my fifteen week old daughter her first ever dose of ‘Chemists Own’ paracetamol last Sunday evening. The next day we had ‘bum blowouts’ like you wouldn’t believe. Trust me – my daughter really doesn’t need a laxative!
I have since spoken to the pharmacist and checked the “Panadol” brand of baby paracetamol. It does not contain sorbitol. I know which one I will be buying next time.
I mentioned this to my brother and he told me that they have to make sure that they buy the children’s paracetamol that is colour free (why does it need to be coloured?) or his daughter reacts badly. Yet another thing to watch out for.
... and Kim great advise and i always use the non chemist brand such as nerofen or dymadon......
