Medicines

Chloral hydrate to help sleep

This leaflet is for parents and carers about how to use this medicine in children. Our information may differ from that provided by the manufacturers, because their information usually relates to adults. Read this leaflet carefully. Keep it somewhere safe so that you can read it again.

  • Chloral hydrate should only be used to help your child get to sleep if your specialist has prescribed it for this use.
  • Always follow your specialist’s instructions about how to use Chloral hydrate.

Contents of this leaflet

Name of medicine

Chloral hydrate

Why is it important for my child to take Chloral hydrate?

Chloral hydrate is only suitable for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. It is a sedative and will calm your child and help them get to sleep.

It may be prescribed if your child has been having difficulty sleeping and this is affecting their daily life. It can only be prescribed by a specialist.

What is Chloral hydrate available as?

Liquid medicine:143 mg, 200 mg or 500 mg per 5 mL

When should I give Chloral hydrate

Give the medicine about 30 minutes before your child goes to bed.

How much should I give?

Your doctor will work out the amount of Chloral hydrate (the dose) that is right for your child. The dose will be shown on the medicine label.

It is important that you follow your doctor’s instructions about how much to give.

Chloral hydrate is a sedative and can be dangerous if too much is given.

How should I give Chloral hydrate?

Liquid medicine

  • Shake the medicine well. Measure out the right amount using an oral syringe or a medicine spoon. You can get these from your pharmacist. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount. You can also dilute the  medicine (measured with a medicine spoon) in a small amount of water or squash. Make sure your child takes it all straight away.

When should the medicine start working?

Your child should feel sleepy within 15–30 minutes and should fall asleep within an hour.

What if my child is sick (vomits)?

Do not give a second dose of chloral hydrate. Contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice.

What if I give too much?

If your child has any, or all, of the following symptoms they may have had too much chloral hydrate:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • You are unable to wake your child
  •  They seem particularly weak
  • Their pupils (the black circles in the eyes) are tiny
  •  Your child feels that their heart is racing.

 

It can be dangerous to give too much chloral hydrate because it is a sedative. If you think you may have given too much, contact your doctor or nurse immediately for advice or take your child to hospital.

Are there any possible side effects?

We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes they have other effects that we don’t want (side-effects).

Side effects you must do something about

If your child has difficulty breathing, develops a rash, or seems particularly weak or tired, take them to hospital or call for an ambulance.

Other side-effects you need to know about

  • Your child may feel dizzy and confused or may be less alert than usual.

  • They may have nausea (feel sick), vomit (be sick) or diarrhoea. Contact your doctor if these symptoms become a problem.

  • Your child may have wind and bloating (swollen belly).

  • They may seem excitable.

  • Your child may get headaches.

  • They may lose coordination.

Your child may sometimes get side-effects that are not listed above. If you notice anything unusual and are concerned, contact your doctor. You can report any suspected side-effects to the UK safety scheme at mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

More information on side-effects can be found in a leaflet on our website.

Can other medicines be given at the same time as Chloral hydrate?

Your child should not have any other medicine that makes them drowsy or sleepy (such as medicines for hayfever) as Chloral hydrate also has this effect. This includes medicines that are bought over the counter from a pharmacy or a shop and herbal and complementary medicines

Chloral hydrate should not be taken with some medicines that you get on prescription. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any other medicines your child is taking before giving Chloral hydrate. This includes herbal and complementary medicines.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any other medicines to your child. This includes herbal and complementary medicines.

Is there anything else I need to know about this medicine?

If your child has been taking chloral hydrate for some time, do not stop using it suddenly as your child may experience unpleasant withdrawal effects. If you or your child wants to stop using chloral hydrate, your doctor will explain how to gradually reduce the dose.

Each time you open a new bottle of liquid medicine, check how long you can use it for, as the expiry dates may differ with different liquid medicines.

When you get a new bottle of liquid medicine, check what strength you have been given and how much to give your child, as this may be different from the previous supply. If you are not sure how much to give, contact your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

Chloral hydrate may make your child drowsy (sleepy). They need to take extra care when taking part in physical activities. You should tell your child’s teacher that they are taking Chloral hydrate and that they may feel drowsy.

General advice about medicines

  • Only give this medicine to your child. Never give it to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same, as this could do harm.
  • Make sure that the medicines you have at home have not reached the ‘use by’ date on the packaging. Give old medicines to your pharmacist to dispose of.
  • Make sure that you always have enough medicine. Order a new prescription at least 2 weeks before you will run out.

If you think someone else may have taken the medicine by accident, contact your doctor straight away.

Where should I keep this medicine?

  • Keep the medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and direct sunlight. It does not need to be kept in the fridge.
  • Make sure that children cannot see or reach the medicine.
  • Keep the medicine in the container it came in.

Who to contact for more information?

Your doctor or nurse will be able to give you more information about Chloral hydrate.

England: NHS 111

Tel 111

www.nhs.uk

Scotland: NHS 24

Northern Ireland: NI Direct

Wales: NHS 111 Wales

Copyright disclaimer

Version [1]. © NPPG, RCPCH and WellChild, all rights reserved. Review by May 2027.

The primary source for the information in this leaflet is the British National Formulary for Children. For details on any other sources used for this leaflet, please contact us through our website, www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk.

We take great care to make sure that the information in this leaflet is correct and up-to-date. However, medicines can be used in different ways for different patients. It is important that you ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about something. This leaflet is about the use of these medicines in the UK, and may not apply to other countries. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), WellChild and the contributors and editors cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information, omissions of information, or any actions that may be taken as a consequence of reading this leaflet.