Overmedicated children? Please help!

06-01-2005, 03:51 PM

My ex sister in-law is being maniacal about giving her kids medication, and honestly I think they are being way overmedicated. I never see them wheezing, they run around outside, run track, bike, skate, etc and never complain. When my brother has them, he doesn't give them meds and they are fine (actually better, not drowsy, more energetic, play more outside). Now she is threatening to sue him if he doesn't give them the meds. He is seeking a second opinion from another Dr, but she is against that for some odd reason.

For example this is what they are taking: Does this seem like alot???

Boy, age 12

8 A.M. meds - Advair inhaler, 1.5 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment

3 P.M. meds - 1.5 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment

9 P.M. meds - 1.5 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment, claritin, nose spray, Advair inhaler

Girl, age 10

8 A.M. meds - Flovent inhaler (3 puffs), 1.5 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment

3 P.M. meds - 1.5 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment

9 P.M. meds - 1.5 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment, claritin, nose spray, Flovent inhaler (3 puffs)

Girl, age 7

8 A.M. meds - Flovent inhaler (3 puffs), 1 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment, EYE DROPS

3 P.M. meds - 1 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment, EYE DROPS

9 P.M. meds - 1 tsp. albuterol, breathing treatment, claritin, nose spray, Flovent inhaler (3 puffs), EYE DROPS

06-01-2005, 06:39 PM

Daisychain,

I think your brother should ABSOLUTELY seek a second opinion! My son has asthma,(I assume that is what they are being treated for) and the albuterol and also the nebulizer are usually only used as needed. I have both at hand, the syrup and also the nebulizer in case my son starts wheezing or coughing really bad. I have never heard of having to take all that EVERYDAY. Usually those are only used when it is really bad, for every day use my niece, who also has asthma, just uses a rescue inhaler. She also uses a daily asthma pill but I really don't remember the name of it. That is alot of med. and it is also kinda weird that all three have asthma that is THAT SEVERE. I hope that you can get some answers with all this.

06-01-2005, 07:12 PM

I would also think a second opinion is warranted! Seems he would see something if he is paying attention to them and they are not showing symptoms.....sure can't hurt to get them seen....

06-01-2005, 08:22 PM

I think that much Albuterol is bad for you - at least, my doctor didn't seem to happy when I used my Albuterol too frequently. Frequent use of rescue medication can mean that Asthma is not well controlled, and if no one else is noticing these symptoms, I wonder why she is giving them so much medication...it sounds like their asthma is well controlled by just daily meds. I know mine is, I haven't used my Albuterol in a long while...I'd get a second oppinion. Good luck!

06-01-2005, 08:43 PM

I also think it's strange that all three have the same thing. She may be doing their little bodies more harm then good. Can you call a pediatrician or find one that you can speak to online and ask the questions? Find out what their diagnoses is as to why they need that much medication? I would recommend your brother take them as soon as he can, they are HIS children too. I would take them to specialist and not just a regular pediatrician. Good luck keep us posted on those babies. God Bless em.

06-02-2005, 07:55 AM

DS doesn't wheeze, doesn't cough -- doesn't have any of those symptoms; however, he gets nebulized albuterol & atrovent THREE times a day. He also gets antibiotics 4 times a day, as well as a number of other medications. Every other month he gets an antibiotic nebulizer treatment twice a day that lasts 20-25 minutes. Again -- my son doesn't have any symptoms. And omigosh!!! I'm giving him all these drugs! Am I a horrible parent?!!! Do you think my friends and relatives judge me for giving him too many drugs?

No they don't. Because my son has Cystic Fibrosis. A progressive disease that will eventually affect his lungs. So I'm doing whatever I can to keep him healthy because there is no cure and life expectancy is mid-30s. So I am HORRIFIED that someone would WITHHOLD medications for a child without knowing the whole story! Walk in my shoes!

Several coworkers have made comments that your son doesn't seem sick. Like we're FAKING his disease. My response is -- the genetic tests from the Mayo Clinic say otherwise. And he's healthy because of all the HARD work his father and I do to keep him that way. again. I'm appalled that rather than getting the whole story, the father chooses instead to withhold medications.

06-02-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulcatcher

I also think it's strange that all three have the same thing. ...

If it is a genetic disease, such as cystic fibrosis, and both parents are carriers. There is a 25% chance that children would have CF. I know of several people who have more than one child with CF and they all have to have similar treatments, several times a day.

06-02-2005, 10:39 AM

As midget said in the earlier post, albuterol and the nebulizer are "usually" only used as rescue medications. Could you please tell us what they are supposed to be being treated for. That would probably help everyone to answer your question better.

06-02-2005, 11:47 AM

I'm curious, too as to what the children are being treated for. Interstitial lung disease, asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, damaged lungs from RSV, genetic mutations...?

We use albuterol and atrovent with nebulizer to open up the airways (bronchi) in conjunction with chest physiotherapy. This helps to get the mucus up and out of the lungs. If the mucus doesn't get out and sits there's a good chance it can sit there and infection can occur, which can cause scaring of the lungs/lung damage that can never be corrected. We don't use it as an emergency treatment -- we use it as a daily 3-4 times a day treatment.

06-03-2005, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratatosk

I'm curious, too as to what the children are being treated for. Interstitial lung disease, asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, damaged lungs from RSV, genetic mutations...?

We use albuterol and atrovent with nebulizer to open up the airways (bronchi) in conjunction with chest physiotherapy. This helps to get the mucus up and out of the lungs. If the mucus doesn't get out and sits there's a good chance it can sit there and infection can occur, which can cause scaring of the lungs/lung damage that can never be corrected. We don't use it as an emergency treatment -- we use it as a daily 3-4 times a day treatment.

Ratatosk, I am in complete agreeance with you!!!!! As my child suffers with Reactive Airway Disease due to scaring in his lungs from being on a ventilator several times at a very young age, RSV, as well as several recurrent pneaumonias. My child also is given meds such as Albuterol on a daily basis EVEN IF HE IS NOT WHEEZING, as we too use these types of meds as preventatives, instead of not medicating at all and waiting till he is wheezing and having trouble breathing before we medicate.

So without knowing these childrens true medical dx i would hate to make the assumption that these children dont need these meds. If their father is truely concerned then it would be a good idea for him to make an appointment and take them to see a pediatric pulmonologist. Afterall a second opinion could be a good thing. Good Luck,

GloryGurl

06-14-2005, 08:51 AM

I also have a son who was on albuterol nebs 3 x a day due to asthma and a primary immune deficiency. And this was also when healthy. When he was sick or just starting with even a sniffle it was every 4 hours. My son has been tested 2x for CF. He keeps coming out negative. Did anyone think that maybe they, as in the 3 children, seem fine is because of being given the meds as a preventive measure. I have a mother in law who thinks my son doesnt needs his meds. Well, I brought my hubby with me to his immunologist and pulmonologist so he could hear it for himself. Maybe that is whats needed for their dad. If he is concerned about the amount of meds then he should go to the kids appointment and ask the questions directly to the childrens doctors. Maybe the kids dont need it but maybe they do and if they do he is doing them more harm then good by not giving the medications they need to stay healthy. I hope I am making sense.

06-15-2005, 07:39 AM

Just scary that someone would withhold medications without knowing the whole story. We have a routine where we do nebs and CPT three times a day and we stick to that schedule religiously. Sometimes we're late for social events, etc. but DS's lung funtion has to take priority. Once lung tissue is damaged you never ever regain it and I'd like DS to live a very long life.

Overmedicated children? Please help!

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