Benadryl

[dcmom]

okay. DD is home from pex. First night, exhausted, slept well. Next two nights, rash from bandage itching so we gave her Benadryl. She slept beautifully and was amazing the last two days. Last night, off the benadryl- trouble sleeping (not terrible, but asleep at 10 and awake at 6:30 am), not enough. I see a bit of a difference in her.

 

So- can I do benadryl every night for a few more days, just to help the healing? Is this terrible? Should I get kidscalm?

[mom md]

I think it is fine and you can probably give it every night for a while. Sometimes though if you take any sleep aid for a long time (like a month) you can get a little chronically tired. You do not go into REM sleep as much on sleep aids which is where your body does it's deep cellular repair work. I also think the anti-inflammatory Motrin could also help.

[peglem]

I'd do the benedril for a few more nights. Its relatively safe, and you know it works. We never got much mileage from the kids calm.

[thereishope]

My son only gets sleepy from Benadyl on the first day of use, then he gets use to it. So don't be suprised if it stops working for that benefit.

 

He takes it for seasonal allergies and takes it for weeks.

[smartyjones]

my son has been taking kidscalm for about a month. he does a potty delay thing so i like it b/c it seems to help keep him 'regular'. i haven't noticed a difference in any calming effects.

[MMC]

A few more nights should not be a problem at all. We have been giving our son benadryl each evening around 7:30 for about 6 months now...along with other meds (25 mg Amitriptylene and 1/2 Clonidine tab). This does the trick (most of the time). We have not noticed him getting immune to its ability to make sleepy. This has been our main management technique for his pandas and tics (chorea)...as night time is the hardest time for him.

[bubbasmom]

Okay, nothing to do with PANDAS but my oldest had chronic hives for 3 years she would get hives 2-3 times a day EVERYDAY. I know she took benedryl at least 5 days a week for 2 years and tappered off after that. It's just like Claritin or others, just an antihistimine. Give it to her if that's what works I say. But I know for my daughter the dr. didn't blink an eye at it. Your pharamicist can answer questions about that.

 

okay. DD is home from pex. First night, exhausted, slept well. Next two nights, rash from bandage itching so we gave her Benadryl. She slept beautifully and was amazing the last two days. Last night, off the benadryl- trouble sleeping (not terrible, but asleep at 10 and awake at 6:30 am), not enough. I see a bit of a difference in her.

 

So- can I do benadryl every night for a few more days, just to help the healing? Is this terrible? Should I get kidscalm?

[dcmom]

Thanks everyone! Will continue for a few days- she needs the rest, not to mention me - no sleep for Mom in the PICU...

[smartyjones]

have you tried epsom salt bath? my kids do seem to relax and fall off to sleep better after that. you go through it fast though - we only do about 1/2c to 1c a bath - i most recommended 2 cups.

[dcmom]

I haven't tried it- but I will- silly question, but, where do you get epsom salts, cvs?

 

DD doesn't like baths, since pandas, maybe that will get better?

[pixiesdaddy]

We dosed DD with Benadryl for about a week after IVIG just to be on the safe side.

 

We currently give her a quarter of a Melatonin tablet and a 1/4 tsp. of the adult version of KidCalm before bed. She often will at least soak feet in an Epsom salt bath, so we get that in too. Epsom salt available at any pharmacy - CVS, Walgreens, etc.

 

Pixiesdaddy