May 3rd - Children's Tylenol Recall (among others)

Yes my friends, this blog is going to be another testament to trusting your gut. Not the books, not the doctors, not the labels…..but your gut!

Two weeks ago M. started to run a 102 fever. As directed by my pediatrician, I gave M. Tylenol to bring it down a bit. Not having any left in the house, my husband picked up “grape splash” Tylenol and M. got his first dose at 4pm. We then gave him another at 10pm, then another at 6am. The morning rolls around and at 8am I am changing M. out of his pajamas. I was horrified!

M.’s legs look he had been “mutilated by a cat” and those were the exact words I used when I called the allergist’s office. His pant legs had blood on them and his stomach had a “bubble like” rash on it. M. was reacting to something, I just didn’t know what. The only new product he ingested was the “grape splash” Tylenol. The nurse I spoke to however felt the need to relay a different message to the doctor and described M.’s symptoms as a cough and sneeze with allergy like symptoms. Even if I rearrange the letters “mutilated by a cat” I can’t come up with “cough and sneeze”. I can come up with “dim bulb” though if I use the “b” twice.

And that’s exactly what this nurse must have been because I get a call back that the doctor wants M. on 1/2 teaspoon of Zyrtec. Hmmmm…..how is Zyrtec going to help the kid’s skin? I ask the question and she said “because his itching is from allergies”. I reluctantly accepted the answer and kept M. on Zyrtec for 5 days. He showed no relief, only got worse and so I stopped using it.

Fast forward to this morning. A phone call from my husband prompts me to quickly get on the internet. Children’s Tylenol and Children’s Zyrtec are being recalled, among other products, for not passing quality standards for the product. The products being recalled could contain higher levels of active ingredients, a inactive ingredient that may not meet their internal test requirements and tiny particles. Ortho McNeil is claiming that the medications will not cause “adverse medical reactions.”

Ok…so where do I begin? Should I be mad at Ortho McNeil for once again minimizing that they are HARMING CHILDREN, the FDA, who just change their name from Food & Drug Administration to “fail”, “disappoint”, and “aggravate” or should I direct my anger at the “dim bulb” who didn’t listen to me? I knew something was wrong, but, yet again, I was directed by a nurse to leave it to the doctor. You know, the expert.

Moms and Dads….this will not be the last time I say this, but you are the expert of your child. Follow your instincts, fight like hell and speak up when you know you’re right. And if the doctor doesn’t like it, too bad. Find a new one.

For more information about the recall, visit http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/

"My Way" Mom
 
Disclaimer: Information posted is not meant to replace advice given by your doctor. It is for entertainment purposes only.