His Doctor said to try orange juice,but he don't like orange juice. We have to hold him down to get him to take it,and he usually throws it back up.
Talk to the pharmacist who dispensed it. They are the ones who can adjust tastes, who understand what it can be mixed with, who have tons of ideas and experience. Doctors often prescribe meds, but pharmacists understand how the meds are taken, how they can be combined, how flavors can be masked, etc. They are a wealth of knowledge.
You could teach him how to swallow a pill and give it to him that way.
Call your doctor's office for this one. As several other people have mentioned, iron interacts with many other chemicals, including calcium (in all dairy). Taking a medicine in a food or drink sounds simple, but this is one of those special situations where it's not simple. Talk to a professional.
If the doctor told me to use orange juice and I knew my child didn't like it, I'd have said something at that time. I'm sure there are other alternatives!
Talk to the pharmacist. So many medications can be mixed with flavoring agents, and I know ours offers about 30 different ones. Let your child choose from bubble gum to cherry to whatever. You can also mix many powders and liquids in yogurt, pudding and so on. Forcing it down his throat in a liquid he dislikes is just activating his gag reflex.
DO NOT MIX IRON WITH DAIRY like ice cream or yogurt!!! Dairy hinders absorption.
Iron is better absorbed with vitamin C , which is why your doctor probably suggested OJ. Try other fruit juices like apple juice or any juice with vitamin C in it.
have you tried other juices?? how about just giving it to the child and following it with ice cream or a sucker or popsickle?
I would call the Doc back and let them know how he's reacting. If he's throwing it back up, it's not serving its purpose and they need to be made aware. Iron is nasty tasting and hard in the digestive system. I'd be researching it and questioning his doctor.
Get him to plug his nose and then rinse his mouth several times before letting go. I do that with my kids as well as myself. I don't do liquid meds well
Does he know WHY he has to take it? If not, find a way to explain it in kid-speak (maybe a book in library about taking medicine). And then ask him how HE would like to take it, himself. Brainstorm WITH him. Give him control of HOW he takes it, just not IF he takes it.
I started giving my son the syringe that he had to take medicine in when he was about 3 and he gave himself the medicine. He will take yucky tasting meds with no problem at age 9 because he understands why and he can control how.
I suggest feeding him something containing Vit C before giving him the iron. Then put the iron med into something he likes, non dairy if it hinders effectiveness of medication.
Perhaps he'll swallow the med with water and rewarded with a popcyle or sometHong he loves.
Does he take a pill or liquid? My grandaughter started swallowing a pill before she was five. If it's a liquid miss it into applesauce or anything he likes. You may be able to crush the pill and mix it in food.
At 5, ask for his help in finding a way to take tge medicine. Never hold down a child to take a medicine unless not taking it is life threatening. A 5 yo can agree to taking the medicine if he understands it's important and given a choice.
Yes, do call the pharmacist for help in knowing how to manage this.
