Care Opinion

Text size

Theme

Language

Videos in BSL or ISL
Help with language translation
Help with reading or listening

Ibuprofen and paracetamol given together

Posted By casingxf58

"Ibuprofen and paracetamol given together"

About: North Devon District Hospital / Accident and emergency North Devon District Hospital / Paediatrics

(as a parent/guardian),

I was told by 111 to bring my daughter to the North Devon hospital. My daughter was having fever and it was her third day.

After arriving we were told to wait in the lobby. After an hour the nurse called us inside. She checked my daughter’s fever it was 39 celsius. Then she gave her paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time. After few hours her fever went down but when i checked the nhs website it says Ibuprofen is the only safe painkiller to give children alongside paracetamol. However, do not give paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time. You need to give these medicines 1 at a time. Which means i can give alternately but not together.

Well after talking to a doctor, we were sent to paediatric ward. There they did the urine test and flu swab. Turned out my child had flu. They tried explaining to me it’s ok to give it high dose and together. So the NHS website is wrong or am i wrong here? I think they did give my daughter both together was a risk. We were sent home and the fever came back and she started shaking.

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Sophie Hutchings, Governance and Operational Support Manager (Northern Services), Emergency Department (Northern Services), Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 5 months ago
Sophie Hutchings
Governance and Operational Support Manager (Northern Services), Emergency Department (Northern Services),
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 10/02/2025 at 08:43
Published on Care Opinion at 08:43

Dear Casingxf58,

Thank you for taking your time to provide us with your feedback and I am so sorry to hear that your daughter has been unwell with the flu.

The advice on the NHS website states the following:

Ibuprofen is the only safe painkiller to give children alongside paracetamol. However, do not give paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time. You need to give these medicines 1 at a time (unless your child's doctor or nurse gives you different instructions).

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-children/taking-paracetamol-for-children-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/#:~:text=Giving%20paracetamol%20with%20other%20painkillers,nurse%20gives%20you%20different%20instructions

In this case the medications were given to your daughter by the nurse here in the Emergency Department so therefore the advice on the website was adhered to. I hope that your daughter is recovering well from the flu.

Best wishes

Sophie Hutchings
ED Governance & Operational Support Manager

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k