My son won't take his medicine (long)

[RadioNate]

I need help. I am SO angry. So angry I hit the door. I know I shouldn't be this angry but I'm boiling.

Yesterday I posted how my DS is sick. DH is out of town so I have no help.

Anyway we ended up at the ER last night on the advice of our peds call-a-nurse. After 4 hours he was giving antibiotics for possible strep throat. The rapid test was negative but the DR said it looked like strep and that the rapid tests are unreliable.

His fever is still over 102. I managed to get the motrin in him but it has been an HOUR and I still can't get the ammoxicilian in him. I know it is YUCKY but how can I get it through to a nearly 5 year old that he HAS to take it.

The biggest issue is that his 5th birthday party is Saturday. He has been looking forward to his party for MONTHS. I keep telling him that if he isn't better he can't have his party. He seems to get it and then still refuses the medicine.

After an hour of bribery and begging, I tired to syringe it into his mouth. Total disaster and he ended up spitting it in my face and all over himself. He's in the tub right now.

I was out of control angry. Scared the poor kid slamming open the bathroom door and making him get into the tub.

I don't know what to do. DH isn't home until after 10 tonight. I have no one else to help me.

I don't know what to do.

I'm afraid if I go to our peds for the shot, the ER will then be considered non-emergency and our insurance will deny it. I'm already out $150 for the co-pay. I'm already mad I took him there because there is a chance that they will say it wasn't an emergency and deny the claim. I was going to go to the urgent care like I normally do but the phone nurse talked me into the ER.

To top it off I've only have 5 hours of sleep so I think that is why I have little/no patience.

Help, how can I get him to take these meds without an hour+ long flight?

 

[AllyandJack]

Call the pharmacy and see if it's OK to mix it with something. I remember being a kid and having to take penicillin. It was terrible. So, my parents mixed it with cranberry juice. I'd call the pharmacy just to make sure - I'm almost positive you wouldn't be the first parent to call and ask that question. I know my parents called! If not, maybe you could get it in pill form and dump the powder into something like applesauce.

If you go to the doctor, chances are the visit will be billed as a follow up, which is obviously allowed after an ER visit. A fever is considered an emergency and you also called and were told to go to the ER. If they deny it (and they might....they like to do that), just appeal it and, chances are, it'll be fine. In fact, one of my ER visits was denied and the hospital just re-billed it for me and it worked out.

One more thing....if you were there OVERNIGHT, watch your bill. In March, I spent the night in the ER and got billed for TWO ER visits. The computers saw it was two visits and thought I owed 2 co-payments.

I hope your son feels better.

 

[SamIAm21]

Well, the amoxicillin is the one medicine my daughter loves to take. They put some type of fruity bubble gum flavor in at the pharmacy and she loves it? Did your pharmacy put the flavoring in because that is tremendously helpful! Does he know how ouchy getting a shot is? Maybe if you pack him into the car (pretending) and tell him you are taking him to get a shot because he won't take his medicine, he'll concede and take it! Or a phoney very scary sounding phone call to his Dr. where you repeat back that the Dr. said he'll have to go into the hospital and won't be out in time for his birthday party??

I can commisserate with you though because my DD threw up some grape flavored Triaminic cold medicine once on my work clothes about 15 minutes before I was due to leave for work. What a nightmare! I forced her to take it otherwise she'd be sniffling all day long and miserable. Well she said she didn't like the grape stuff.... and now I know she means it!

 

[clarabelle]

I have kids like that. I think it was punishment. I used to be a nurse and when I would hear people say they couldn't get kids to take their medicine- I would think "If it were my kids they would be taking that medicine"

I have one that will throw it up.
Try putting it in a little bit of some drink he really likes. Like coke or some kind of punch and see if he will drink it.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Another way to give the medicine through the syringe, is put 1/2 in the syringe and stick it inside your childs cheek and then blow in his face. This will cause him to swallow right away. Repeat with the second half reminding him about how exciting the party will be and how he doesn't want to miss the party by being sick.
Maybe a little bit of bribery wouldn't hurt either. Like maybe McDonalds for lunch or a bow of popsicles from the grocery store.

Good Luck!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Our neighbor, who is a nurse, told my mom to put the meds in applesauce. It usually worked.
Usually amoxicillin has good flavors. I was on it more times than I can count when I was little, and I was always excited to pick out the flavors (hey have to find the good thing about having ear infections constantly). I'm surprised that this is so nasty

 

[princesslibby]

My DS9 won't take liquid or pills either. So we have to do the shot. When he gets sick they always ask if he'll take liquid or pills. When I say NO i'm going to have to force him to take something(he usually throws it right back up)they agree to give him the shot.
Some good things about that are:
1.They feel better in a couple of hours-or at the most by the next day.
2.You don't have to fight with your child.
3.Insurance usually covers the cost of the shot-so your not out more $.
I know it's hard but take a deep breath. Maybe he'll decide to take the medicine.

libby

 

[CathrynRose]

Im suprised crazy, psychotic mad didnt freak him out enough to take it. Always worked on mine...

What about a (amoxilicillian)milk-shake? Or some (amoxillicillian)yogurt? I always found the dairy stuff kinda hid the flavor.

Will a threat of "Thats fine, Im dropping you off at the hospital, by yourself, so they can give you shots every 4 hours" work?

Good luck.... I hate when they do what your son's doing. FINALLY mine are both pill-swallowers!!!

 

[Hannathy]

First forget the Motrin a 102 fever won't kill him in fact some camps feel a bit of a fever really helps kill the bad bugs. Get the amox in him.
Did you try giving him control of the syringe. My son wouldn't take it unless he could put it in his mouth HIMSELF. I made him do it in front of me but I let him do it.
If it is the taste he doesn't like try getting it cold helps with the taste.
Another idea have him hold his nose until after he has swallowed it
Will he take pills? Some kids ( my DD) dislike the liquid and take pills early, she did from 4. started putting them in a bite of ice cream that she just swallowed. then soon she just swallowed them. Good luck and be firm.

 

[Jenn]

What works for me is I let them have a drink of whatever they want (little one usually picks chocolate milk, older one picks soda). They take a sip of medicine, sip of the drink, etc. until medicine is gone.

 

[mrsv98]

DD is terrible about taking medicine. I started putting it in the measuring spoon most places give you and once she had control, it was better. It also didn't hurt that we bribed her sith a trip to CEC if she took all the doses without arguing. You have a built in bribe with the bday party so try the spoon. GOod luck, I understand psychotic mad, you should have seen the dibocal (sp?) when the nurse didn't get the strep test on the first try......

 

[RadioNate]

It was straight out of the fridge cold. The same pink stuff we all had as kids. I used to LOVE this stuff. I let him have control of both a medicine spoon and the syringe for nearly an hour. Then I tried ChristmasElf's in the cheek and blow trick, which got the medicine spit in my face.

Right now it is in some fruit punch which he is drinking SLOWLY.

I wish I could make him understand that sipping on it is way worse than just getting it down quickly.

He likes the taste of the Motrin.

I'm going to call our insurance and see what they say about follow up visits to the regular Ped. I know my DS's health is more important than $ but since they really found nothing wrong with him and I'm out $175 I'd rather not do anything to make insurance more likely to deny the ER bill.

thanks for all the advice. I'm going to keep trying.

Of course, in addition to feeling horrible about it, I'm paying for my hand into bathroom door 'incident.' The bottom of my hand is pretty tender. So I think I've learned that hitting open the bathroom door as hard as I can with an open palm is a really bad idea for several reasons.

 

[golfgal]

When my kids had to take meds they didn't like I would have to lay them on the floor, hold their arms down, pinch their checks, squirt the meds in the back of the throat and keep their cheeks pinched until they swallowed the meds. Sometimes I would rub their throat and that would make them swallow. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

 

[Snow Brite]

You are gonna need to go to the doctor for some meds for YOU after this! Or, maybe just your friendly local bar after DH gets home.

Kids....you gotta love them. Its the law.

You have some great advice there on getting the meds into him. The only other one I know is to use the pillowcase trick. This actually works very well for imobilizing a child on your own for anything, stitches, ripping bandaids off, eye drops, etc. I have three boys, can you tell?

Anyhoo, have him sit up with his legs straight out and his arms at his side. Take a pillowcase and go behind him. Slide his hands and then his arms into the pillowcase and then pull the pillow case up along his back so that the opening to the pillowcase is from one armpit to another along his shoulder blades. His arms should be straight down along the seams of the pillowcase. Then have him lie down, with his arms at his sides inside the pillowcase. He will be lying on the pillowcase, with his arms immobilized inside the pillowcase but not uncomfortable.

Its best if you can get to where it is not a battle of wills, you against him, but sometimes it happens that way. I usually try a contest. Thinking back on your drinking games in college and try to make one of those work.

 

[Caleb's Mom]

I could have written the exact same story as yours about 6 weeks ago even my son's age and trip to the ER . Here's my DH solution...

He filled one of my son's sip cups (the kind that have a straw) with juice and then we filled an oral syringe with the medicine. At the same time my son would suck thru the straw with his beverage in one cheek my DH would shoot in the med with the syringe into the other cheek. The simultaneous sucking action of the juice and the med worked like a charm.

I'm still scrubbing the red stain from the med he threw up onto my LazyBoy chair before we got this brilliant solution.

Good luck - we've been there.

 

[CathrynRose]

Anyhoo, have him sit up with his legs straight out and his arms at his side. Take a pillowcase and go behind him. Slide his hands and then his arms into the pillowcase and then pull the pillow case up along his back so that the opening to the pillowcase is from one armpit to another along his shoulder blades. His arms should be straight down along the seams of the pillowcase. Then have him lie down, with his arms at his sides inside the pillowcase. He will be lying on the pillowcase, with his arms immobilized inside the pillowcase but not uncomfortable.

Why cant I visualize this pillow-case-straight-jacket you describe???

 

[larfamily]

The is the ONLY way my son will take any medication. He throws up otherwise. Ask for a prescription of chewable tablets. Crush up a pill in a small bowl. Add a spoonful or two of dry brownie mix right out of the box. Add a little bit of water. I asked my pediatrician about this and he said it was fine.

 

[Snow Brite]

Why cant I visualize this pillow-case-straight-jacket you describe???

Because it is hard to describe? He is lying on his back with his arms straight at his sides, hands by his hips. The pillowcase is like sleeves on his arms. He is lying on the middle part of the pillowcase. Because he is lying on the slack of the pillowcase, his own body weight makes it impossible for him to pull his arms out of the pillowcase. It is also tight on his arms, but not binding. I wish I had a picture.

Still not the best description...sorry. Words are failing me today.

 

[kimmikayb]

I don't have any real advice but wanted to give you some

My DH travels a lot and it seems like something always happens when he's gone, especially sickness. And I too, have a kid who won't take medicine. I always know he's really sick when he refuses it because he wants to take it when he's healthy. My DD, almost 5 takes meds now but didn't until about 4 yo. She was so sick one time, we had to give her suppositories with the meds. That was not fun.

Hope he takes the meds. Hope you can get some rest too.

 

[DisneyPhD]

My oldest was a total pain the butt about meds until a few years ago (she just turned 5) we found she responds very well to rewards or bribes. She gets a small gift for being good and taking her meds (I always have stuff hid away I bought on sale.) and if she refuses later she losses the new toy.

Now actually she will do it with out a toy or reward. Sometimes she still bulks, but understands the connection that it makes her feel better.

The problem with amoxiclin is you normally have to take it 2 to 4 times a day and a few tablespoons when they are older and bigger. That can be a real pain. My oldest is allergic to it, so Zmicin for us. 1 double dose the 1st day, and 4 more days, that is it.

The good news is IF you DS takes his meds she should be fine for his party. Don't stop after he feels better, finish it or it could come back or get worse.

My DD also gets most difficult about it when she isn't feeling well or has a high fever.

Best of luck.