Calpol is ‘the heroin of childhood’ says doctor

A doctor has branded Calpol ‘the heroin of childhood’ as it is revealed children are taking three times more of the medicine compared with 40 years ago.

In a BBC documentary, Dr Chris van Tulleken investigated why the UK spends £64million a year on the paracetamol-based medication.

The new dad and CBBC ‘Operation Ouch!’ presenter says his own GP Dr Marlow tells him: ‘We have children almost addicted to paracetamol, to Calpol.

‘Not the drug itself, but the process. Some describe it as “the heroin of childhood”.’ 

Dr van Tulleken found that many parents give their children Calpol to ease a mild fever.

However, according to guidelines, having a high temperature is not dangerous and is in fact the body’s way of fighting infection.

Instead, Calpol – which has been linked to asthma and kidney, liver and heart damage – should only be used as a painkiller, said Leicester Royal Infirmary medic Dr Damian Rowland.

Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Calpol, said: ‘We strongly refute any suggestion that the information we provide to parents is inadequate.’ 

Dr van Tulleken has previously conducted a social experiment for BBC One in which patients’ prescriptions were swapped for drug-free alternatives.

The sugary syrup linked to asthma

 

Calpol is a paracetamol-based medicine for children which is used to treat pain and fever.

The sugary syrup can also provide relief from post-immunisation fever,  teething troubles and common colds.

It was introduced by manufacturers Johnson & Johnson, who have been making medications for children for 45 years.

The UK spends £64million a year on the popular medicine. 

A 2013 study by researchers in Spain suggested that babies given Calpol are five times as likely to develop asthma later in childhood.

The medication has also been linked to kidney, liver and heart damage.