Chloral Hydrate

What is chloral hydrate?

Chloral hydrate is used to calm your child or help her to fall asleep. This can be because your child may be feeling anxious or having problems falling asleep, or your child may be going for a medical procedure.

You may hear chloral hydrate called by its brand name, Chloral Hydrate-Odan and PMS-Chloral Hydrate. Chloral hydrate comes in a liquid form.

Before giving chloral hydrate to your child

Tell your child's doctor if she has an allergy to chloral hydrate or any other medicines. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine. Talk with your child's doctor or pharmacist if she has any of the following conditions:

• heart disease
• liver or kidney disease
• stomach irritation or ulcers
• breathing problems or sleep apnea
  

How should you give your child chloral hydrate?

Give your child chloral hydrate exactly as the doctor or pharmacist tells you.

Talk to your child's doctor before you change the dose or stop giving this medicine for any reason.
If giving chloral hydrate by mouth:

• Measure the liquid carefully. Use a proper measuring device such as an oral syringe, medicine dropper, medicine spoon, or medicine cup.
• You can mix chloral hydrate with water, infant formula, fruit juice, or ginger ale to help with the taste of the medicine.
• Children with feeding tubes can also take the medicine. Make sure to flush the feeding tube before and after each dose.
• Chloral hydrate liquid can be given rectally. In the hospital, a nurse may give the medicine rectally. If you are to give the medicine rectally at home, a nurse or pharmacist will show you how.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of chloral hydrate?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.
• This medicine is often given on an as-needed basis.
  

How long does chloral hydrate take to work?

Chloral hydrate works quickly after your child has a dose.

What are the possible side effects of chloral hydrate?

Your child may have some of these side effects while she takes chloral hydrate. Check with your child's doctor if she continues to have any of these side effects, especially if they do not go away or if they bother her:

• dizziness
• feeling sleepy
• feeling confused or less alert
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
  

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take her to the nearest Emergency Department if she has any of these side effects:

• trouble breathing
• a rash or hives appear
• feeling extremely weak or tired
  

What safety measures should you take when your child is using chloral hydrate?

If your child has been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk to her doctor before stopping the medicine. The doctor may want to reduce the dose of the medicine slowly.

Chloral hydrate may cause your child to be dizzy, drowsy, or less alert. Have your child avoid activities that require her to be alert, such as riding a bicycle, rollerblading, or contact sports. School work may be more difficult for your child to focus on, so tell her teacher that she is taking this medicine.

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with chloral hydrate, or in some cases the dose of chloral hydrate or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal), including:

• warfarin, a medication that thins the blood
• other medicines that can cause drowsiness, such as phenobarbital, valproic acid, and lorazepam
  

What other important information should you know about chloral hydrate?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough chloral hydrate to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least two days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep chloral hydrate at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep chloral hydrate out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much chloral hydrate, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.