Medicine taking (or not taking) five year old

[Microcell]

My DD has had a very hard couple of weeks- emergency Appendectomy after we accused her of faking a tummy ache- yes I know I lost mother of the year. Now she finally gets home after being in the hospital 7 days- yes I said 7 days and they now want her taking two different antibiotics for 7 more days, that to hear her talk taste like poison. I tasted them and I would not choose to take them, they are not all that bad. We have abandoned the pain meds for Ibuprofen, which she likes, but do any of you have a good suggestion for getting her to take these without a big production each time? They are liquid form. Any suggestion will be considered, barring duct tape!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

My kids actually like the "cold pink medicine" as they like to call it. They think it's liquid strawberry yogurt. Is that what your dd is taking? Most pharmacies can make it any flavor she would like... so if she prefers grape or cherry see if you can get the antibiotics that way.

 

[RNMOM]

Well, with my difficult kid I would buy M&M's and give him 2-3 each time he took his meds. He loved them and always did it for me.

Have you tried a deal? If there is something she really likes/wants give her the reward after you have gotten through the week taking the meds as needed. I would use both so you have a short term reward and a long term reward.

Also, pamper her with food choices to "make up" for having to take the medicine that tastes bad. By that I mean to consult her with the menu for the week. Let her plan some dinners that she will look forward to and have some control over.

I know I reward myself for doing something unpleasant. How about you?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Oh, also, my kids prefer to take it from a dropper instead of a spoon. I think it goes straight down their throat that way and they taste it less.

 

[clh2]

You may want to ask your doctor / or one of his nurses /or pharmacist if he/she has any ideas.

When my DD had her tonsils out when she was 4, she didn't want to take the antibiotics either. She also had a pain killer for a couple of days too. When the nurse called the day after the surgery...I asked her about the "yucky" medicine DD needed to take. The nurse suggested mixing the stuff in with a little bit of chocolate milk. (I.e. a tablespoon or so)

Another thing that worked for us (and this has never worked since) my daughter never wanted to take the medicine right when it was convenient for me. She always wanted to take it in 10 minutes or 11 minutes, or some bizarre amount of minutes. I just set the timer for whatever time was "dictated" to me, and then she would take the medicine. I think this gave her a little bit more control over what was going on.

If she doesn't have any restrictions on what she can eat - don't forget what the grandest nanny of them all used to do: A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way!...Candy works great as a bribe.

DD was on antibiotics for strep about 2 weeks ago, and for the last night's dosage (we struggled with it all week...) I promised her a family game of UNO after she took her meds. An occasional really good bribe may work too!

Hugs and PD to your DD.

Make sure you are taking care of you too - a tired & exhausted caregiver won't be overly helpful for your daughter.

 

[Microcell]

The meds are Flagyl and Augmentin. One is cherry flavored and the other is some citrus tasting thing. I tried the spoonful of sugar and she does prefer the dropper. Maybe the pick your own dinner thing would work. More suggestions please, I need to be creative for 5 more days or 25 more doses, geez that seems like alot!

 

[janette]

My DD had trouble with them and I usually used something that she liked to drink after as a bribe. A special drink like a coke or things that she doesn't normally get are the best.

I also used a syringe, I could get it where she didn't taste too much. Augmentin is pretty nasty stuff or so my girls said.

 

[cindysteve]

We have had pretty good luck over the years mixing the meds into kool-aid, or fruit punch, or chocolate milk, or a milk shake... anything that they will take. We used more than a table spoon. Like a juice glass full. Pinching your nose closed while you swallow dulls your sense of taste. We did the syringe down the throat. Good luck.

 

[Microcell]

We tried to mix her stool softener into a drink and now she is suspicious! We have abandoned that as long as she keeps going number two! I will have to call the pharmacist and see about mixing, as some drugs should not be mixed into other stuff. We all like Amoxicillin alone but it was not stong enough. Appys are no fun at all!

 

[debster812]

Ugh--Augmentin is really ICKY. DS just had it with his latest ear infection (#4 for the winter). What we do with the Augmentin is to dose it out into the cup or spoon, and then put a BIG squirt of chocolate syrup in it. It helps.

The other thing I do (and it is along the lines of letting them feel in control) is to let DS choose whatever he wants to wash it down with. Only a couple of sips, but whatever he wants, juice, water, soda, whatever.

Good Luck! It is no fun at all is it?

 

[lsyorke]

My son was on Bactrim for a whole year and the only thing that worked was sucking up the liquid in a turkey baster thing and he'd open his mouth and I'd shot it in and it would make big bubbles. He loved it! Twice a day for 12 months!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I have no suggestions. When my mother told me to take medicine, I took it and didn't give her an argument. Times have changed!!!!!!

My SIL puts it into those freeze pop things. Maybe that will work.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DS just got done taking Augmentin. He takes a sip then uses his favorite drink after kind of as a chaser. At 5, they are old enough to explain to them, its icky but its for you to get better. My Ds is 5 too and he's pretty good at taking his meds.

 

[WhenUwishUponAstar]

I guess I'm a mean mommy I just say

"take your medicine or no playstation2 works everytime"

 

[tiggereyore]

Guess I'm a mean mommy too.
My 5 yr old (almost 6) has been swallowing his allergy pill for 2 yrs now (yes He started at 4) Then I cut it in half now he swallows the whole Zyrtec. He also has been swallowing the ibuprophen. The only liquid I've given him was the tylenol with codine when he had his tubes put in in December. No my youngest he's another story what a whimp and he admits it. He's 3 and wont even chew the chewables. with this last cold/ bronchitis I did the milk chasers and since he's like his dad and milk makes his chest colds worse this was the only thime besides breakfast I let him have his milk. He better look out though by the time hes 4 he'd better be off that liquid totally!!

I should say that I work in a pharmacy and these parents that come in with 10-14 yr olds who wont swallow or chew the tabs send me into orbit. Guess to them money is no issue or they just son't stand up to the kids. O that path of least resistance.

 

[aprilgail2]

I put my daughters in a syringe and hand it to her (I've done it the same way since she was 2) and tell her that when she is ready to take it (this way she feels she has some control over it) and eventually she takes it and if its augmentin which is HORRIBLE tasting she gets a piece of chocolate after it. I also have the pharmacy flavor it with a different flavor each time that I let her pick out.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

My DD has epilepsy and has to take liquid Zarontin everyday, twice a day until she is ready to switch to pills!! It is also very bitter. Initially, we refrigerated the medicine even though that was not required. It help cut some of the bitterness. When we give it to her, she gets her meds in a medicine cup and a glass of apple juice or water. She normally "shoots" the med and follows up with a juice chaser. In some respects it is probably easier for us since we (and DD) knows that this will go on forever. Also, she gets her meds at breakfast and dinner, and she cannot leave the table until done. She's been taking this medicine for 1 1/2 years now, and we rarely have a problem anymore.

Good luck.

 

[Microcell]

You guys have all been so helpful! She has been taking it, but crying and whining for minutes about it first. I am usually mean mommy- "If you don't take it here it is back to the hospital for an IV" just makes her cry harder. She also admits to being a wimp because she took Augmentin when she was three with less argument. I am just trying to make it easier because she had all kinds of horrible stuff happen to her at the hospital like NG tube shoved down her nose- awake, Picc line put in etc. I am among the more strict parents on this board, but she has towed the line before this trip to the hospital. I am frustrated because she is being more feisty about med taking than before and I am suprised by it. It is like some of her innocence is gone! That being said, time to argue with her about the Augmentin again!

 

[speedi-deedi]

I generally try to take the mean mom approach too, BUT....when the doctor goes out of his way to tell me that a particular medicine is pretty bad tasting, I try to lighten up. I think it was augmentin that we put strawberry syrup in - my DS is not a big chocolate fan.

The other admittedly odd bribe that worked for me is Funyuns!!!! I convinced my son that they have a really strong taste and would get rid of the medicine taste in his mouth. So, we got one Funyun out and laid it on the plate - so it was ready - and then down went the medicine, lickety split.

This has worked for both kids. I can't explain it, desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

[CEDmom]

I don't know if someone already suggested this since I didn't read all the posts . Try putting the medicine into one of those test tube looking measurement spoons and adding a little squirt of Hershey syrup. I had to do this for some nasty medicine DD had to take and now she insists on it everytime, but hey if it gets her to take it that's what matters.

The other idea is to give your DD a few choices on how she wants to take it. For example with syrup, straight up with a little treat after etc. I find it much easier to give DD control of how she'll take it instead of battling over whether she'll take it.

Finally, don't beat yourself up over misdiagnosing your DD. I'd say only 1 out of every 1,000 tummy aches is anything serious.

Hope your DD is better really soon.