The question of sedatives such as Calpol.

[DCI]

I don't think he said 'at night to help her sleep'  did he?

You're quite right, Lace, he never did.  That confusion arose because a journalist added his own words in brackets of a direct quote of Mr Healey (sic) to help her [madeleine] sleep.

Those words were never said by Mr Healey.

If I remember correctly, besides the Calpol, he took great interest in Mr Healey's medication, too.

[ferryman]

If I remember correctly, besides the Calpol, he took great interest in Mr Healey's medication, too.

Someone certainly did.  In video footage of the inspection of the villa, there are extended shots of Mr Healey's anti-Parkinsonian medication ...

[faithlilly]

Not at our practice, unless urgent! You can buy omeprazole over the counter at pharmacies!

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/proton-pump-inhibitors

Can I buy proton pump inhibitors?
Most of these medicines are prescription only. You can buy omeprazole over the counter at pharmacies. However, if you need to use this medicine for more than four weeks you should consult your doctor.

http://www.webmd.boots.com/heartburn-gord/gord-in-adults-proton-pump-inhibitors-ppis

But you can buy omeprazole over the counter at pharmacies. You can buy it as omeprazole, or by the brand name Zanprol. Rabeprazole (Pariet) can also be bought over the counter.

You are absolutely right DCi. Thank you for correcting me and the interesting links.

[DCI]

You are absolutely right DCi. Thank you for correcting me and the interesting links.

You are welcome, Faith!

[Carana]

In recent years, the possible presence of an antihistamine with sedative effects in Calpol has aroused great controversy. Recently, the same laboratory put Calpol Night on the market, whose ingredients clearly list that it contains an antihistamine.

That wording was, probably deliberately, used so as to mislead the unwary reader into supposing the drug was on the market at the time of the holiday

 In recent years, the possible presence of an antihistamine with sedative effects in Calpol has aroused great controversy.

That is a falsehood (at best); a lie (at worst).

Although (possibly) something lost in translation (where the hell is Carana when you need her) ...

 

Madeleine dorme mal
Durante uma deslocação a Inglaterra do pai de Madeleine, em Julho de 2007, um colega da polícia inglesa visitou-o em casa. Colado no frigorífico viu um quadro onde eram assinalados os problemas de Madeleine. Constatou que a criança tinha dificulda- des em dormir, levantando-se várias vezes durante a noite. O avô paterno chegou a declarar que a mãe de Madeleine dava às crianças um medicamento denominado Calpol, para ajudar os filhos a dormir. Este medicamento é comummente ministrado às crianças inglesas, falando-se até de uma geração Calpol. Ao longo dos últimos anos tem-se discutido se este contém ou não um anti-histamínico cujo efeito é manifestamente sedativo. Certo é que esse efeito era a razão para o uso do Calpol em Inglaterra. Recentemente, este laboratório lançou um novo medicamento, o Calpol Night, em que o anti-histamínico está assumidamente presente. Na altura, especialistas afirmaram que aquele medicamento fun- cionava como um sedativo. A mãe chegou a admitir que trouxe tal medicamento de Inglaterra, mas que este não teria efeito sedante, tratando-se apenas de um paracetamol*, e que não teria chegado a administrá-lo aos filhos nestas férias. No momento do desapa- recimento de Madeleine, esta dormiria no quarto com os irmãos gémeos. Estes, apesar do barulho, dos gritos da mãe e das visitas ao seu quarto, nunca acordaram. Esta situação pode ser interpre- tada como encontrando-se as crianças sob o efeito de um qual- quer sedativo. Esta dificuldade em dormir pode ter desencadeado o fim trágico de Madeleine.

[ferryman]

Ah, thank you.

So that translates as

Over the past years has discussed whether or not this contains an antihistamine which manifestly and sedative effect.

Hmmmm!

Could be ...

[Carana]

@ Ferryman

Amaral seems to be saying that there was a controversy as to whether Calpol contained an antihistamine with a sedative effect. And that that was why it was used in the UK. He then goes on to talk about Calpol Night...

What on earth was he on about?

As far as I'm aware, Calpol doesn't contain an antihistamine.

[ferryman]

@ Ferryman

Amaral seems to be saying that there was a controversy as to whether Calpol contained an antihistamine with a sedative effect. And that that was why it was used in the UK. He then goes on to talk about Calpol Night...

What on earth was he on about?

As far as I'm aware, Calpol doesn't contain an antihistamine.

Yes, I interpreted Amaral's meaning the same as yours and I think I actually know what he's driving at.

There actually is a mistaken belief among parents that calpol has some kind of sedative property.

That belief (almost certainly) stems from parents watching a fretful and restive toddler settle and drop off to sleep after being given a dose of calpol.

In fact, the painkiller kills the pain, and children, like adults, sleep better free of pain than in pain.  So they settle and drop off to sleep, nurturing the (mistaken) belief among some parents that calpol has some sort of sedative effect.

I think that's reflected in Amaral referring to calpol (not night) as a sleeping solution

[Carana]

Yes, I interpreted Amaral's meaning the same as yours and I think I actually know what he's driving at.

There actually is a mistaken belief among parents that calpol has some kind of sedative property.

That belief (almost certainly) stems from parents watching a fretful and restive toddler settle and drop off to sleep after being given a dose of calpol.

In fact, the painkiller kills the pain, and children, like adults, sleep better free of pain than in pain.  So they settle and drop off to sleep, nurturing the (mistaken) belief among some parents that calpol has some sort of sedative effect.

I think that's reflected in Amaral referring to calpol (not night) as a sleeping solution

Well, yes, a painkiller, by definition, is meant to kill pain and thus facilitate sleep.

But he was under the erroneous impression that Calpol contained an antihistamine in addition to paracetamol. Which it didn't.

[ferryman]

Well, yes, a painkiller, by definition, is meant to kill pain and thus facilitate sleep.

But he was under the erroneous impression that Calpol contained an antihistamine in addition to paracetamol. Which it didn't.

Is quite correct.

I think he inferred that from the equally erroneous belief in certain quarters that it does have a sedative.

[Carana]

Is quite correct.

I think he inferred that from the equally erroneous belief in certain quarters that it does have a sedative.

But he was a senior police officer on this case. And no one on his team verified that Calpol was just paracetamol?

[faithlilly]

But he was a senior police officer on this case. And no one on his team verified that Calpol was just paracetamol?

You would think the Leicestershire police would at least have given him that information.

[ferryman]

You would think the Leicestershire police would at least have given him that information.

One of the first things Amaral did as soon as UK police officers arrived in Portugal was have some of them put under secret surveillance.  He says so in his book.

It seems reasonable to suppose he didn't trust them.

What makes you suppose he'd have confided anything he believed in them?

[Carana]

I can't remember how this parents-sedated-kids rumour started, but Kate's dad was interviewed about it, which was then misreported in some UK tabloid, and then got misreported again in some Portuguese tabloid.

The Portuguese tabloid article then ended up in the police file... highlighted in yellow.

[faithlilly]

I can't remember how this parents-sedated-kids rumour started, but Kate's dad was interviewed about it, which was then misreported in some UK tabloid, and then got misreported again in some Portuguese tabloid.

The Portuguese tabloid article then ended up in the police file... highlighted in yellow.

Do you have the video of Mr Healy's interview please ?