To medicate or not to medicate, that's my question

[annissamazing]

Dominic has a cold. It started out as coughing last week (some of you may have noticed). Yesterday the runny nose started. By the time I picked him up his sleeves were disgusting (I'm working on getting him to use tissues).

I dropped him off again today and my sitter said, "Didn't you give him cough medicine?"

Honestly, the idea of giving him medicine for his cough didn't even occur to me. Unless a cough is disturbing my ability to function (such as eating and sleeping), I don't medicate myself and I didn't think to medicate Dominic since he's eating and sleeping just fine. I explained that and she laughed and said, "Oh, I always give my girls cough medicine at the first sign of a cough. I think it helps them recover faster."

My doctor once told me never to medicate a productive cough. I'm assuming by the state of Dominic's sleeves, that his coughing was productive.

What do you think? Cough medicine or no? If so, when? I reserve the right not to take your advice, but I'm curious if I'm being overly cautious.

I remember Denny Moore once complaining that I refused to take any medicine for a headache. Apparently, my not taking OTC medicines is more noticeable to other people than to myself. I just don't think to do it most of the time.

Comments

[gement.livejournal.com]

As long as he's reasonably comfortable, either is fine. I tend to take your path, as bodies are pretty good at sorting themselves out.

[sprgtime.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it SEEMS like her child recovered faster, but there is no medical basis to back that up. It probably seemed that way because the child wasn't showing as vivid symptoms so much.

Productive coughs DO help the body clear out infection, so taking something to reduce the production is counter-productive (literally, heh heh).

I'm with you. I prefer not to medicate unless really needed. Although if I had a headache so bad that I was complaining about it, I'd take something!

I seldom take stuff for me and don't plan to give Dax stuff. I want him to be comfortable, but I also want to let his body do what it was designed to do. My husband read a study about how children under 3 should not be given... something... can't remember... a cold medicine or something... because statistically it didn't help one bit when compared to the kids who were given nothing.

[loragirl.livejournal.com]

I agree with your philosophy 100%. Unless the child is just beyond miserable, there's no reason to medicate. I very seldomly take any kind of medications and as a result (I think..) I'm rarely sick. And when I do get sick, I'm usually recovered in 3 days verses 10+ that most people suffer with colds/flus etc. Besides all that, I believe that a mothers instinct is the most powerful, perceptive force out there for child care. Do what you think is best and let other people learn to deal! :op