Re: Documented evidence of sedative effects of Calpol.

by vaguely1 03.03.10 10:18

Tony Bennett wrote:
vaguely1 wrote:
Tony Bennett wrote:On the general subject of what was happening in Praia da Luz, is it not true that several of the 'Tapas' children were ill in one way or another that week?

Wilkins' and O'Donnell's baby apparently was crying and Wilkins had to take her out for an hour-long walk on 3 May...hmmm.

Is it out of the question that this holiday was paid for by a medical company which was trialling a sedative for children?
It's not out of the question that the holiday was paid for by an international arms dealer either Tony. But going back to the OP - what are the documented sedative properties of Calpol?
I think this article from the Daily Telegraph back in 2005 sheds light on the whole subject.

It's very clear indeed (is it not?) that many parents think of and use Calpol as a sedative:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

that would include those who are medically trained, or even able to read a bottle? Or just stupid people?

by Ruby 03.03.10 10:41

It could include medically trained but stupid people who didn't bother to read the bottle, or any variation on that. bashful

by vaguely1 03.03.10 10:46

Do you not think that once you've given a child Calpol to sedate them you'd notice that actually it doesn't work?

Or are we talking people who are too stupid to notice that?

by Chinagirl 03.03.10 10:55

It's very clear indeed (is it not?) that many parents think of and use Calpol as a sedative

Using the substance and "thinking" that it is a sedative doesn't indicate that it IS a sedative.

If you're an unmedically trained parent with a fractious child because it has a mild fever who then drops off the sleep after a dose of Calpol, you may well "think" the medication is a sedative, without realising that it simply eased the child's pain and/or lowered its temperature, thus allowing it a peaceful night's sleep.

by vaguely1 03.03.10 11:00

But on the nights that they're tearing up and down the stairs at 10pm and you give them a spoonful of Calpol.....you would be forced to reconsider your opinion.

by bunny 03.03.10 11:09

jmbd wrote:Terence Stephenson, professor of child health at Nottingham University, believes their use by parents may be misguided.

"Paracetamol doesn't have any sedative properties whatsoever and neither does Nurofen," he says. "It's a widespread misconception that Calpol helps children to sleep. Doctors used to prescribe antihistamines to help children sleep, but not any longer."

JMBD, thanks for posting this. I would have thought that two Doctors would have known that calpol doesnt have any sedatives properties, wouldnt you?

So why on earth is Tony posting this and relating it to the McCanns?

by hedge 03.03.10 11:12

bunny wrote:
jmbd wrote:Terence Stephenson, professor of child health at Nottingham University, believes their use by parents may be misguided.

"Paracetamol doesn't have any sedative properties whatsoever and neither does Nurofen," he says. "It's a widespread misconception that Calpol helps children to sleep. Doctors used to prescribe antihistamines to help children sleep, but not any longer."

JMBD, thanks for posting this. I would have thought that two Doctors would have known that calpol doesnt have any sedatives properties, wouldnt you?

So why on earth is Tony posting this and relating it to the McCanns?

because Amaral did, so why does Amaral want to mislead the public into believing that they drugged their children with something that 2 minutes research would have shown him wasn't possible?

by bunny 03.03.10 11:14

Im interested in where Amaral got that information. I still think there is a possibiity he got it from 3as personally.

by hedge 03.03.10 11:15

bunny wrote:Im interested in where Amaral got that information. I still think there is a possibiity he got it from 3as personally.

he's not going to base aspects of his investigation on the ramblings of a small hate forum in the uk, is he?

by jmbd 03.03.10 11:16

He prefers Oprah.

by bunny 03.03.10 11:17

hedge wrote:
bunny wrote:Im interested in where Amaral got that information. I still think there is a possibiity he got it from 3as personally.

he's not going to base aspects of his investigation on the ramblings of a small hate forum in the uk, is he?

I really do think there is a very high possibility that he did. I dont have the links as 3as has gone but I remember that stuff appeared on the 3as BEFORE it appeared in the Portuguese press. This happened on at least two occasions from memory.

Im pretty sure that there are posters (maybe still around now) who are connected to the PJ.

by hedge 03.03.10 11:21

bunny wrote:
hedge wrote:
bunny wrote:Im interested in where Amaral got that information. I still think there is a possibiity he got it from 3as personally.

he's not going to base aspects of his investigation on the ramblings of a small hate forum in the uk, is he?

I really do think there is a very high possibility that he did. I dont have the links as 3as has gone but I remember that stuff appeared on the 3as BEFORE it appeared in the Portuguese press. This happened on at least two occasions from memory.

Im pretty sure that there are posters (maybe still around now) who are connected to the PJ.

You mean an informal (or potentially formal??) myth making factory designed to smear the parents of a missing child?

I hope not, it was bad enough when I assumed it was just bitter angry people having a very public bitching session.

by bunnie1 03.03.10 11:21

bunny wrote:
hedge wrote:
bunny wrote:Im interested in where Amaral got that information. I still think there is a possibiity he got it from 3as personally.

he's not going to base aspects of his investigation on the ramblings of a small hate forum in the uk, is he?

I really do think there is a very high possibility that he did. I dont have the links as 3as has gone but I remember that stuff appeared on the 3as BEFORE it appeared in the Portuguese press. This happened on at least two occasions from memory.

Im pretty sure that there are posters (maybe still around now) who are connected to the PJ.

I have to say this has occurred to me.

by vaguely1 03.03.10 11:22

Well there was Beowulf for a start.

by bunny 03.03.10 11:24

okay, just been sent this link [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Fsoares is connected to the PJ wow

and Tony Bennett knows that, even tried to get some information from him.

by bunnie1 03.03.10 11:30

I thought everyone knew that from reading in the 3 Muppets.

by bunny 03.03.10 11:34

bunnie1 wrote:I thought everyone knew that from reading in the 3 Muppets.

Did Fsoares say he was connected on 3as then?
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

by bunnie1 03.03.10 11:38

Its a she - I thought she had.I have never been a member in there but I have read in there when I could stomach it. I have certainly read about her - ex athlete isn't she? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

by bunnie1 03.03.10 11:40

bunny wrote:
bunnie1 wrote:I thought everyone knew that from reading in the 3 Muppets.

Did Fsoares say he was connected on 3as then?
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

From reading your link - Mr.Bennett obviously knows. Is this the information who whatsit was on about last night?

by bunny 03.03.10 11:45

Who's whatsit? thinking

by bunnie1 03.03.10 11:45

whoknowsthe truth I think.....

by bunny 03.03.10 11:49

Ah, no I dont think this is what he was referring to. Could be wrong though.

by kangdang 03.03.10 12:27

jmbd wrote:Terence Stephenson, professor of child health at Nottingham University, believes their use by parents may be misguided.

"Paracetamol doesn't have any sedative properties whatsoever and neither does Nurofen," he says. "It's a widespread misconception that Calpol helps children to sleep. Doctors used to prescribe antihistamines to help children sleep, but not any longer."

No, instead you can buy first generation anithistamines over the counter...no regulation whatsoever!

by bunny 03.03.10 13:34

kangdang wrote:
jmbd wrote:Terence Stephenson, professor of child health at Nottingham University, believes their use by parents may be misguided.

"Paracetamol doesn't have any sedative properties whatsoever and neither does Nurofen," he says. "It's a widespread misconception that Calpol helps children to sleep. Doctors used to prescribe antihistamines to help children sleep, but not any longer."

No, instead you can buy first generation anithistamines over the counter...no regulation whatsoever!

So why were they not mentioned in the files then?

by vaguely1 03.03.10 13:41

maybe because that's what he thought he was talking about but didn't investigate it.

by aiyoyo 03.03.10 18:28

whoknowsthetruth wrote:
kangdang wrote:I do not recall reading anywhere in the PJ files about the finding o Calpol, i do remember Amaral making mention to a Calpol like subtance. Calpol like substance - Medised

Two active ingredients, paracetamol and diphenhydramine hydrochloride.

We all know how paracetamol works - diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine, first generation. Interestingly, an advisory warning was applied to medised in early 2009.

Medised is no longer recommended for children under six years of age. This is because there is no evidence that they work in this age group, and they can potentially cause side effects such as allergic reactions, effects on sleep or hallucinations

Note additional side effects - Given at recommended dosage side effects include profound drowsiness (very common), along with the possibilities of motor impairment (ataxia) and rapid or irregular heartbeat (tachycardia).

Whereas, considerable over dosage can lead to myocardial infarction (heart attack), serious ventricular dysrhythmias, coma and death.

Cue colomba connection perhaps...

Not worth really arguing. Check the ingredients between Calpol and Calpol nyte, then come back with the same conclusion, you won't be able to.

diphenhydramine hydrochloride is contained in |Calpol Nyte which was not released until Madeleine had gone missing.

The thing is CN was licensed in Jan 2007. Were the doctors (mccanns) given samples (before launch) which they took on holiday?

by vaguely1 03.03.10 18:40

Aiyoyo, somewhere in the files will be the photos taken of the scene, it will include the Calpol that was at the scene.

And my opinion is that samples go to GPs who work more than one day a week - I'm not imagining a one day a week GP is going to put aside time to see a rep. A cardiologist is unlikely to be given samples of the medicine.

plus it's an over the counter medicine.......do reps even visit GPs for over the counter medicine?

by bunny 03.03.10 18:42

I dont think they do. Isnt it normally prescription drugs that they try to get GPs to push when prescribing?

by vaguely1 03.03.10 18:44

Yes, GPs, Hospital pharmacies, etc. In order that they may put it forward to their prescribing committee.

I think we're pandering to Mr Bennett's ill informed Calpol daemonization by even discussing it, personally.

by aiyoyo 03.03.10 20:29

OTC or prescribed only is not an issue where giving out free samples is concerned.
New medicine samples are likely given to surgeries, hospitals etc for trial so doctors can either recommend or prescribe it, as forming part of the assortment of medication patients will need.

Generally speaking OTC per se is as implied, but that does not stop doctors including it among prescribed only medicine when drawing up medication list for patients. From experience, I have always had OTC and prescribed only listed together for the pharmacy. So, logically speaking, doctors can be given samples regardless of the requirment for purchase.

I agree once a week GP is unlikely to be specially targeted for freebies. However, freebies can be left with surgeries or hospitals for all its practising doctors, be it full or part time. Why exclude part timers since all practising doctors have to prescribe medication anyway whatever their number of working day/s or hours in a week.

Unless it's a one-person private practice, most surgeries have a group of doctors. I would imagine pharmaceutical representative to see the head in charge and leaving behind samples for all.

That aside, there were doctors other than mccanns within the holiday group - could the mccanns have got the medicine from other Tapas member? Just a thought?

Imo, I dont believe calpol (if used) was the only factor that caused Maddie demise.

TB may be following Amaral's book closely (not sure,because havent read it), so all depends what was in the process files. GM's response pertaining to it was deliberately deviously vague if anything, so pretty banal.

Latest topics