Re: Suggestions on giving meds

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Boy can I relate. Right now we mix into his pumpkin seed butter which is

quite bitter and hides the taste. It's a lot of trial and error. I know a

lot of parents have luck with frozen desserts because the cold can numb the

taste buds.

Good luck,

Suggestions on giving meds

> We are really fighting on getting the Valtrex down my 3 year old

> son. We have been wiping off the blue coating, and then tried

> crushed and not crushed (just 1/4 of a tablet!) and giving it in

> applesauce to help hide the bitterness. At first he went with it but

> now he resists, spits out, refuses to swallow, etc. He, of course has

> a limited number of foods that he eat anyway!

>

> I am soliciting suggestions from others who have been there, as we

> realize we have to try a number of things to get it to work. We are

> forcing it down now to get the medication in him 3 times a day. We

> are to increase to 1/2 tablet next week and I am worried that this

> will be even more trying!

>

> Thanks for any advice,

>

>

>

>

> Responsibility for the content of this message lies strictly with

> the original author, and is not necessarily endorsed by or the

> opinion of the Research Institute.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ! We just went through this same thing a few weeks ago. I finally

just started dissolving the table in water after I washed the coating off and

shooting it down his throat with a syringe. After a few weeks he started just

opening his mouth when he saw the syringe coming. After he takes the medicine I

always have a cup of sugar free koolaid ready for him to help wash away the

bitter taste. He still doesn't like it, but knows that he has to do it three

times a day regardless. It does get better, I promise. My son is 2 1/2 and my

daughter is 4. I thought we'd fight with them forever over this, but within

two-three weeks the fights were over. Hope this helps. Shona

>

> Wrom: REXCAXZOWCONEUQZAAFXISHJEXXIMQZUIVOTQNQEMSFDULHPQQWOYIYZUNNYCGPKYLEJGD

> Date: 2003/01/12 Sun AM 08:50:01 EST

>

> Subject: Suggestions on giving meds

>

>

[Guest guest]

> We are really fighting on getting the Valtrex down my 3 year old

> son. We have been wiping off the blue coating, and then tried

> crushed and not crushed (just 1/4 of a tablet!) and giving it in

> applesauce to help hide the bitterness. At first he went with it

but

> now he resists, spits out, refuses to swallow, etc. He, of course

has

> a limited number of foods that he eat anyway!

>

> I am soliciting suggestions from others who have been there, as we

> realize we have to try a number of things to get it to work. We

are

> forcing it down now to get the medication in him 3 times a day. We

> are to increase to 1/2 tablet next week and I am worried that this

> will be even more trying!

>

> Thanks for any advice,

>

hi, we've been there ourselves!

what works for us is in the following way...

we crush the tablet to a powdery form, I mix it with a little seven-

up soda, put it in a medicine syringe, let him have a sip of water of

seven up after he drinks the meds.At first we used to force him, but

now he got used to it, he doesn't fight it anymore. Just do it

quickly.

hope this helps.

martha

[Guest guest]

My son has always taken alot of medications due to his immune problems.

Some of which do not come in liquid form so we had to have him learn how to

swallow pills quite young. We did this by having him practice with candy

about the size of the pills (for example, tic tacs). We have also

discovered that he does much better with swallowing the pills when we use a

sugar free soda (like 7up) or even with milk (which I realize that if you

are on the GFCF diet that would be out) rather than water or Kool-aid. For

the nasty liquid forms, quite frankly, I feel bribery does have it's place!

After he was finished with his medicine he always got to pick from a jar

with sugar free candy in it. A trick with the pills, place the pill UNDER

the tongue, they can't taste it there, and once they swallow the water (or

whatever) they will automatically swallow the pill as well. Kody knows that

taking his medicine is not negotiable, there is an easy way to do it or the

hard way to do it, and as much as he hates the medicine sometimes, he always

hates taking it the hard way (which has meant in the past holding him down

and forcing him to take it, things like seizure meds can't be skipped!) and

so taking it cooperatively and getting candy is always better! LOL!

Please feel free to visit my website for parents of children with multiple

special needs :

www.geocities.com/schmidtzoo/SNAK.index.html

-- Re: Suggestions on giving meds

Hi ,

Boy can I relate. Right now we mix into his pumpkin seed butter which is

quite bitter and hides the taste. It's a lot of trial and error. I know a

lot of parents have luck with frozen desserts because the cold can numb the

taste buds.

Good luck,

Suggestions on giving meds

> We are really fighting on getting the Valtrex down my 3 year old

> son. We have been wiping off the blue coating, and then tried

> crushed and not crushed (just 1/4 of a tablet!) and giving it in

> applesauce to help hide the bitterness. At first he went with it but

> now he resists, spits out, refuses to swallow, etc. He, of course has

> a limited number of foods that he eat anyway!

>

> I am soliciting suggestions from others who have been there, as we

> realize we have to try a number of things to get it to work. We are

> forcing it down now to get the medication in him 3 times a day. We

> are to increase to 1/2 tablet next week and I am worried that this

> will be even more trying!

>

> Thanks for any advice,

>

>

>

>

> Responsibility for the content of this message lies strictly with

> the original author, and is not necessarily endorsed by or the

> opinion of the Research Institute.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , I know the battle all too well. We tried everything to get my son

to take the Valtrex in several different food variations only to find that

whatever food we tried to camoflage the powdered meds in he will now no longer

eat. Also with the bitter taste in applesause, pudding, non-dairy ice cream,

you name it, he would just spit it out.

My son was 3 years old when we started the meds prescribed by Dr. G, and we

finally discovered that placing the pill on the back of his tongue and

immediately giving him a drink of water, he would actually take it down.

When we first tried this with my son he fought it, but we were determined to get

it down. If he spit it out, we would do it again, until he kept it down.

Now he takes pills any size, no problem. I tell him it is time to take his

meds, sit him on our kitchen counter, show him the glass of water, and he opens

his mouth allowing me to place the pill on his tongue, takes his drink and

swallows it down.

Good luck,

Mindy

Suggestions on giving meds

We are really fighting on getting the Valtrex down my 3 year old

son. We have been wiping off the blue coating, and then tried

crushed and not crushed (just 1/4 of a tablet!) and giving it in

applesauce to help hide the bitterness. At first he went with it but

now he resists, spits out, refuses to swallow, etc. He, of course has

a limited number of foods that he eat anyway!

I am soliciting suggestions from others who have been there, as we

realize we have to try a number of things to get it to work. We are

forcing it down now to get the medication in him 3 times a day. We

are to increase to 1/2 tablet next week and I am worried that this

will be even more trying!

Thanks for any advice,

[Guest guest]

WE started by hiding Valtrex in mashed potato - now he won't eat it!! Try

crushing and mixing with a small amount of baby juice (white grape or pear)

in a syringe and into his mouth. We started with 5 ml.

Now we put several meds together in 10 mls - goes down so fast - mostly he

gives it to himself now.

I personally think it tastes pretty sour still but we chase it with iron

sulphate - sweeter, or a night zyrtec drops - again sweeter - he likes

these.

Suggestions on giving meds

We are really fighting on getting the Valtrex down my 3 year old

son. We have been wiping off the blue coating, and then tried

crushed and not crushed (just 1/4 of a tablet!) and giving it in

applesauce to help hide the bitterness. At first he went with it but

now he resists, spits out, refuses to swallow, etc. He, of course has

a limited number of foods that he eat anyway!

I am soliciting suggestions from others who have been there, as we

realize we have to try a number of things to get it to work. We are

forcing it down now to get the medication in him 3 times a day. We

are to increase to 1/2 tablet next week and I am worried that this

will be even more trying!

Thanks for any advice,

Responsibility for the content of this message lies strictly with

the original author, and is not necessarily endorsed by or the

opinion of the Research Institute.

[Guest guest]

We crush the tablets and give in orange juice, seems to mask the

taste well.

paul

> WE started by hiding Valtrex in mashed potato - now he won't eat

it!! Try

> crushing and mixing with a small amount of baby juice (white grape

or pear)

> in a syringe and into his mouth. We started with 5 ml.

> Now we put several meds together in 10 mls - goes down so fast -

mostly he

> gives it to himself now.

> I personally think it tastes pretty sour still but we chase it with

iron

> sulphate - sweeter, or a night zyrtec drops - again sweeter - he

likes

> these.

>

> Suggestions on giving meds

>

>

> We are really fighting on getting the Valtrex down my 3 year old

> son. We have been wiping off the blue coating, and then tried

> crushed and not crushed (just 1/4 of a tablet!) and giving it in

> applesauce to help hide the bitterness. At first he went with it

but

> now he resists, spits out, refuses to swallow, etc. He, of course

has

> a limited number of foods that he eat anyway!

>

> I am soliciting suggestions from others who have been there, as we

> realize we have to try a number of things to get it to work. We are

> forcing it down now to get the medication in him 3 times a day. We

> are to increase to 1/2 tablet next week and I am worried that this

> will be even more trying!

>

> Thanks for any advice,

>

>

>

>

> Responsibility for the content of this message lies strictly with

> the original author, and is not necessarily endorsed by or the

> opinion of the Research Institute.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

We have had luck with crushing the Valtrex and dissolving it in about

half a teaspoon of water. I then add vegetable glycerin, which is

available at the health food store. (Be sure to get a food-grade

brand like Frontier.)

Raspberry flavor is also good to mask a bitter taste. (tip from

compounding pharmacist)

[Guest guest]

I would like to thank everyone for their input for giving Valtrex.

We are working through a number of ideas and each time get closer to

a " hit " . Thanks to all for your support. I am afraid to be too

overly optimistic (and we have been on Valtrex for just one week),

but my son was totally engaged at Gymboree class today...the first

time ever. Coincidence? I don't think so!

[Guest guest]

Definitely not a coincidence. The Valtrex has made a huge difference in our two

also. Good luck with the meds. Shona

>

> From: " meljackmom <a_bracale_mitchell@...> " <a_bracale_mitchell@...>

> Date: 2003/01/13 Mon PM 05:32:18 EST

>

> Subject: Re: Suggestions on giving meds

>

>

[Guest guest]

> I am soliciting suggestions from others who have been there, as we

> realize we have to try a number of things to get it to work. We

We taught our four year old to swallow the pills. I have a good

friend whose children take a number of pills and she was able to

teach her three year old to swallow pills.

I highly suggest trying this. It is so much easier once they learn

to swallow the pills. For my son, he had a strong motivator. I

simply told him that he could either eat the pill (tastes awful) or

swallow it and not have to taste it. It may be hard to teach him

at first but it is worth a shot in the long run.

A.C.

Here is a link on teaching pill swallowing :

an article on pill swallowing training and the procedure used:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/410255_6

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/pill_swallowing.html