Alternating Meds for a Fever Question...Please Help

[becka]

DS has been running a 101.5-102.5 fever this afternoon. We have a Dr. appointment for 8:30 tomorrow but I am trying to bring down the fever tonight. The dr. mentioned alternating between tylenol and motrin but I don't know how long to wait between each dose. Do I give one dose every 4 hours or one dose every 2 hours?

Please help!!!!

 

[JohnTBap]

Becka have you tried calling the pharmacy or the nurse on call? That's what I would do. I hope he gets better and SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT!

 

[janette]

There can be 2 hours between both but keep the regular schedule on the individual meds.

Tylenol every 4 hours & motrin every 6 hours, you could give tylenol now and motrin in 2 hours to help him through the night since it lasts longer.

 

[Serena]

Just make sure you don't give the two medicines together. But this does work. I've done it with my kids when nothing else helped.

 

[RNMOM]

Becka,

The doctors at the hospital I work do not advise using this method. They feel it is too easy to overdose.

We also encourage parents to not treat a fever unless it is over 102 degrees orally or 101 under the arm. This would equate to 103 rectal.

Fever is the body's mechanism to fight off the virus or bacteria that is attacking it. By increasing the body temp, it kills off the organisms. Unless the child is uncomfortable, having a temperature is not harmful. Honestly. Children can tolerate higher temperatures than adults. We advise our parents to call us back if temps go to 104 degrees or the child's behavior changes. We then have them speak with the doctor or have them bring child in to the ED.

When children are ill, they will sleep more, eat less and are cranky. Just like adults. (Children who are crying for over an hour and you can not get them to stop should be seen in the emergency room right away.) Encourage them to drink lots of liquids and keep them home. We advise either motrin every 6 hours or tylenol every 4 hours. Not mixed unless your doctor specifically wants it used. Other things that help are keeping them very lightly dressed. Diaper and tshirt only. No socks, no sleepers. Use only light blankets and do not raise the temp of the house. Keep it cool and allow the child's body to get rid of the extra heat by flushing, that is the redness that brings the blood to the skin surface to cool it off, or perspiration. If the fever goes to 103 or higher you can wipe them off with damp cloths while they are lying beside you. Stroke arms, legs, tummy and head. Loosen the diaper and let that area cool off. If you are really worried, 95-100 degree bath for 20 minutes can be used but don't let them shiver or that will raise the body temp again.

Seizures from fever are not terribly common and are not dangerous, on the whole. Hope your little guy feels better soon.

 

[KimRaye]

I, personally, completely agree with RNMOM and, everything she said is exactly what I've been told in the past.

However, this 'alternating' meds thing seems to be more widely practiced. Thankfully, I've never had to do it tho.

I did recently ask my cousin, a Ped RN and, she also suggested that alternating/overlapping med thing, again tho, I didn't use it. She gave me the time table, etc but, it surely seems like a LOT of meds for one tiny body.

I also know, as a Mom, that we ALL want our kids feeling better ASAP!

I hope your DS feels better soon!

 

[Kermit]

I hope little Nathan is feeling better. {{{Hugs}}} to both of you. The practical side of me is all for letting fevers burn unless they get too high, but we'll see what happens the first few times Jacob gets sick.

 

[becka]

Thanks for all of your help. When I called to make his dr. appt. for today they told me that since his fever was 102.5 to try the alternating meds to get his fever down because they felt it was so high.

Thankfully this morning it appears that his fever broke. We were up several times with him last night but he was just so miserable that he kept going back to sleep pretty easily if we would just stay there and rub his little back. He has never had a fever that high before and it is so scary how hot he was and he just looked (and acted) like he was miserable.

Unfortunately I could not miss work today so DH is taking care of him. I hope it goes well because last night the only person DS really wanted was ME! He would cry if he was not within about 1 foot of me even if DH was there. I guess little guys really want their Moms when they are sick.

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

I hope Nathan is feeling better. The poor little guy, keep us posted, becka/

 

[browneyes]

Poor Nathan. I hope he gets to feeling better soon.

Was he able to enjoy his birthday? My ds is sick just about every year on his birthday.