Need ideas for getting DD to take her medicine

[kimwim8]

DD5 just had her tonsils & adnoids out Tuesday, and she is still in a bit of pain when the 4 hour mark rolls around & it's time for more pain meds. The liquid that she was prescribed has an orangey smell, but she says its sour. She only takes 4ml (a little less than a teaspoon) every 4 hours, but it takes AT LEAST 15 minutes to get her to open her mouth.

We've tried forcing her mouth open (with previous illnesses), and though we can get it open, she spits the medicine right out.

We finally got her to agree to making her own "rules" - count, hug, drink. She holds a stuffed animal, counts to a number that she chooses (less than 50), gives the stuffy & me a hug & then will open her mouth & drink.

But, since her surgery, she has somehow extended the "rules". It's now: count, hug, kiss, gotta go potty, need a drink (milk), another hug, then maybe drink (medicine).

It's getting out of hand. I do feel bad for what she's going through with the surgery, but what can I do to get her to take her medicine better. When I wake her every 4 hours in the middle of the night, it's even worse.

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks

 

[dianeschlicht]

Can the medicine be mixed into something else to drink?

 

[dizagain]

I feel for you! I was so thankful when DD realized around age 6 that shots are easier!

Our favorite was offering favorite soft drink after taking medicine or a piece of favorite candy. This seemed to work (after all the chasing, crying, begging, prying mouth open, threatening, etc.) Good luck to you!

 

[kimwim8]

I guess I could put it in a drink of some sort, if she drank it all right up.

DH suggested we start taking $1 out of her Disney fund (she's been getting $1's when she's a good listener). That might actually work!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I wouldn't recommend a negative (taking $ from Disney fund) especially since this is temporary.

My DD5 has epilepsy and has to take her liquid medication twice a day. She takes it a breakfast and dinner. Her medication is very bitter (I've tasted it; yuck!). What works for us is that it is served with the meal, and she cannot leave the table from that meal until meds are done. She also takes it with a "chaser." She "shoots" the medicine (6ml) from the medicine cup, then gulps either apple juice or water.

On her last visit to the nuero, the Dr suggested Dr Pepper or Root Beer as the chaser (DD doesn't llike either one) because they are stronger flavor and will help mask the flavor of the medication.

So I guess my suggestion would be find a good chaser and a bribe. Maybe add $1 to her Disney fund if she takes without complaint or issues.

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

I would also say mix it with just enough juice or water to ease the taste a bit or maybe a little bit of apple sauce (only a little bit though I wouldn't dilute it to much), just a thought!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[FINFAN]

I feel for you, when DD had hers removed she almost landed back in the hosp for dehydration...we were using an eyedropper just to get anything on her tongue. We had her meds flavored at the pharmacy, and kept them all in the fridge so they would be cold going down. I guess it helped a little...they are just so sore afterward that I don't blame them for not wanting to swallow. Bottom line, DH caved and promised DD a dog I literally threw a pillow at him across the family room as heard him making this offer (NEVER BARTER W/ LIVE ANIMALS!) Anyway, i will say that she understood that if she did not take her meds and drink a little she would be too ill to look at the breeders for a new puppy...knowing that if we could get her moving a bit she would regain the desire to eat/drink. Well, it was drastic, and "Blaze" is now 4 years old. However, DD did lose over 10 lbs...at the time 25% of her body weight. It was a very scary time. I do remember days 3 and 7 after surgery being especially rough on her. to you all.

Pam

 

[kasar]

Our pediatrician always suggested mixing DD's antibiotics (ear infections) with Black Raspberry sherbet or ice cream. I guess that hides bitterness well.

All kids have their price - candy (I'm thinking lollipops would be good for her), money, special trips, etc. When something's this important it's okay to bribe or let them do something they normally wouldn't be able to. It's temporary and very important to get those meds in.

 

[Microcell]

Ask at the pharmacy and they have drops of flavoring they can mix in to make it taste better for like $2.00. It worked with DD's Antibiotics after Appy surgery. They can pick the flavor out of like 25 choices!

 

[Annette_VA]

Originally posted by Microcell
Ask at the pharmacy and they have drops of flavoring they can mix in to make it taste better for like $2.00. It worked with DD's Antibiotics after Appy surgery. They can pick the flavor out of like 25 choices!

That's what I was going to suggest.

FlavoRx - locate a pharmacy near you that has it

FlavoRx - flavors

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Desperate times call for desperate measures...When all else fails, resort to bribery..My DS's will do just about anything for a piece of candy..

 

[Talking Hands]

If this is only pain meds then why make an issue of it. Obviously she is not in that much pain. Let it be her choice.
Now if it is antibiotocs or others meds then you will need to insist on her taking it and I would not let her play games. It is not a choice. She cannot control the situation. She must take her meds. Then she can have a drink she likes. You need to be the one in control in this case.

 

[ducklite]

I also recommend asking the pharmacy about flavoring the meds. If they can't get it quite right, ask you doctor to send the script to a compounding pharmacy. They can do miracles with flavorings. The one near me has over 500 flavors!! They often can also make the liquid more concentrated so she'll need much less of it for the same results.

I'm generally one for "that's just the rules, deal with it" type parenting as Talking Hands suggests, but with a sick kid one needs a little more empathy and compassion. That said, it's sounding to me like she is becoming somewhat manipulative about it. I'd reel her in a bit--maybe let her have three things she can do before taking the meds, her choice, but not a laundry list like she's got going now.

Anne

 

[MerryPoppins]

What does she really like? Have a "chaser" ready. A strong flavored drink or ice cream or candy or a popsicle. Whatever will kill the bitter taste should do it. Let her choose. You tell her she has to take the medicine, but give her some control. Let her pick the chaser.

 

[shortbun]

Pop or candy. Never fails for us and it's just temporary.
My nephew takes a daily med with a little PEPSI. The bribe
there is the caffeine which is taboo at his house. He uses the
same bottle, even when it gets flat to take his med and loves
it. Forget juice or water. Pop or candy, that's the way to go,
really!

 

[Serena]

If it were any other kind of medicine, I would resort to bribery if neccessary. But pain medicine? She must not be hurting very much.

 

[crz4mm2]

And I would NOT wake her up to give her pain meds.......
She needs sleep and so do you. She will wake you up if she is hurting enough.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Mmmmm, when was her surgery? How long did the doctors want you to give her the pain medicine? Has it been long enough that she could get by with something like Tylenol?

If not, I might respectfully disagree with the last posters. Sometimes kids don't realize that if you let pain get out of control it's harder to rein in. I'm not a big fan of pain medicine, but intense pain wouldn't be fun for Mom and Dad either.

 

[kimwim8]

thank you all for your advice. Yes, tough love is really what I needed to use. Normally I am (IMHO) a tough mom. I think it just upset me that she was going through this, through no fault of her own.

Anyway, my sister was watching her for part of the day yesterday, while I came to work, and she told DD that she wasn't doing all the "rules". She said, you count backwards from 10 to 1 and then open your mouth.

Don't you know, she did it?? So I did that for her next dose at night, and then I was planning on seeing how the night went without waking her.

Her last dose before bed was at 8:30...she woke at 1:30 crying and coughing (loud & barking). I gave her the pain meds b/c she said it hurt really bad. She did the counting backwards thing again!!

Then I let her sleep until I got up for work (6:30) and gave her another dose b/c I could hear her coughing and thought it would only be a matter of time before it woke her again. And I also thought (maybe I'm wrong) that she hasn't been getting enough sleep, so if I woke her up, instead of waiting til 7:30 or 8 when she would normally get up, then maybe she would sleep a little longer & better.

MIL is there with her today. I just checked with her & DD is STILL sleeping. That makes me so happy. She really needs it.

THANKS AGAIN to all of you. This is a new experience, and I may not do everything the right way, but I'm doing my best.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Hang in there. This too shall pass. I don't think you're doing a bad job.