Who to Ask When No One Knows About Med Interactions

This is the problem with supplements - they haven't been researched well, and so no one has any idea what will interact with them.

However, in general, since it says it already has a fever reducer in it, I wouldn't give another one.

....and you think WE have special knowledge of your homeopathic remedies because.....

Your pharmacy doesn't know because this stuff isn't regulated by the FDA. Any Billy Bob can throw together a bunch of herbs and mark "Nature's Cure" on it and peddle it to you.

ETA: Gamma, you are flat out WRONG about doctors' knowledge of medications. Just so many shades of wrong. I can't even get over how wrong you are.

I'd just add that you don't usually medicate at all when a child is "just starting" to develop a symptom. Wait and see if it's really getting in her way.

And taking a child out of a bath? They'll ALL have elevated temperatures after being in the warm water! Wait at least an hour before taking their temp.

That Umcka stuff sounds like it has a whole ton of different things in it! I can't believe a doctor recommends that much across the board no matter what the symptoms are. A slight cough is beneficial for getting out phlegm. A simple fever reducer like Tylenol is good for fevers of 101 or more, and most doctors don't want you to medicate below that unless a child has horrible aches from a flu. It slows recovery. The body's immune system should take care of most things if you don't get in the way.

Otherwise, call poison control. And no, the vitamin shop won't know about anything they sell, and they aren't doctors or pharmacists.

I've read some of your other posts and I do think you tend to worry an awful lot. Are you absolutely positive that all this stuff is necessary and recommended? I think most kids (and adults) get over things on their own if you just keep them comfortable and give lots of water.

i'm aghast that you would consider advice from the internet, even on this site that i like, about medicating your child over and above what your pediatrician and another doctor have said.
if you don't trust the doctors, stop using the medicines.
no one can guarantee that your child won't have a reaction.
i generally feel warmer when i get out of a bath too.
khairete
S.

Look up the number of your local 24-hour pharmacy & call to speak to the pharmacist on staff. They have access to a huge medical database & can look up the drug interactions for any medications/supplements you are unsure about, as well as counsel you about drug-food interactions.

If the pharmacist also says something ambiguous like "Should be fine, not sure" ask them to specifically look it up in their MicroMedix database.

Good for you to ask for concrete information! Hope your little one is feeling better soon. T.

I can't believe you asked this on an internet site full of strangers and think we actually know what you are talking about. Call me crazy but I never gave my child something I would not take myself if needed. Her life was more important to me than that.

I always contact my pharmacist with any questions about medications.

I've never heard of the items you are talking about and if you are talking about all natural, snake oil remedies, that are not FDA regulated, you may create a bigger problem with your child.

GO to your Dr., get a proper diagnosis and treat according to your Dr and pharmacist.

Sounds like you're using herbal/all natural supplement type medications?

If that's the case, then I'd quit using them all together. If a pharmacist doesn't know the ingredients/potential interactions, chances are those supplements aren't regulated by the fda and there could be anything in there.

And I'd use a thermometer to measure a temperature and not treat one until fever hit 101.

Pharmacist, most actually have the software to look up what interact with whatever

Poison control 1-800-222-1222.

The main reason to not give ibuprofen, can't spell it, so I say Tylenol too close together is because you are increasing the amount of that product which may become a dangerous amount over time. The med you're using has all together different ingredients. If 2 pharmacists says they think it will be OK i'd give it to my daughter. I think the problem for them is that Umpka are natural ingredients with ehich they're unfamiliar. I would expect that both the pharmacist and the Vitamin Shop to have a product description to which they could refer to answer your question.

Have you called the ER advice nurse or your insurance's advice nurse? You may get the information you need by googling it by product name or by looking at information on each of the ingredients. Another resource is the Poison Control office. Someone answers 24/7.

I might check with a different pharmacy and be sure you're talking with a pharmacist and not a tech. Ask them to look it up since botb Amy and Julie S who works in the medical field have let you know that they can look it up.

What does your pediatrician after hours nurse line say? That's who I always called for medical advice.

Your daughters physician.

In this case you gave your child a mixture of medications that no one knows what it is, you don't even know what you gave your child. But you do say one of them is a fever reducer. SO there's no way I'd give them a second fever reducer.

If your child had a reaction to this stuff the ER wouldn't have know what to do.....throw it out and don't give it to anyone again.

Your child is more important than that.

You'll just have to wait until morning and call the doc.

BUT BUT BUT

Doctors have about zero knowledge about medications. They know what meds are for infections and what to give for ailments, I'm not saying that. BUT they are not trained in medications. That's what a pharmacist does.

The pharmacist you called didn't even know what was in your medication. That tells me it's unsafe.

It is a day later so I assume you sorted out your immediate issue?

Going forward, I suggest you look up those ingredients so that you know what you're giving your child. The common names are more easily recognized. Some of the things you listed from the package are neurotoxins. There are medical uses for poisonous herbs, but with OTC products like this the quality is uncontrolled, the accuracy of dosage can vary wildly from what is stated, it can be contaminated with unlisted products, and the people taking the product are not monitored as they should be. You have to know the risks.

Here is the first link to a reliable resource.

Aconitum napellus - monk's hood, wolfsbane
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/aconi007.html

As an FYI - you can call any pharmacist in any 24 hour CVS (or whatever) location nationwide and ask this question.

How lows it say the effects are for. Usual meds are for every 6 or 8 hours. Unfortunately if it's a weird natural remedy type thing, you may not know.

Fevers can run there course without needing medication as long as it isn't bothersome to your child. This however is thrown out when it reaches a dangerous level.

Claritin and regular Mucinex (kids) are what my pediatrician recommends for cough and sniffles, especially when it contains phlem. If she is just starting those symptoms, but has a fever- I would maybe just give Plain Tylenol or Motrin and make sure she has fluids and vitamin c. You may not have even needed to give that other weird med.

Next time Is wait to give her anything until you talk to Dr.