2.9 Y O Who Won't Take His Meds

My pediatrician recommended giving my daughter a popsicle right before taking her amoxicillan. Let her suck on it for a minute until her mouth gets really cold and numb so she doesn't taste it as much. Then, after she takes the meds, I pop the popsicle right back in her mouth. It gets rid of the medicine taste immediately and she gets to eat the rest of the popsicle. Since we started doing this, we've had no problems taking medicine anymore.

M. L.

When all else fails use a med. syringe hold him down and squirt it in small amounts into the back of his mouth between his cheek and teeth. But You could try to see if your pharmacy can still flavor it and you can also try letting him suck on a popsicle for a few seconds before hand to numb his taste buds. You can also put it in a tablespoon full of ice cream or applesauce or pudding to help him get it down but make sure you only mix it with enough to put on one or two spoonfuls so that he gets it all.

when my son didn't like the taste of a medicine (not very often but it did happen on occasion) I would tell him it is not suppose to taste good it is suppose to make you feel better. I would let him have a saltine cracker or something similar when taking the medicine. He would hold the cracker while I gave him the medicine & shove it in his mouth the second I got the spoon or whatever we were using for dosage out of the way. He would usually have some water or juice nearby also.

Amoxicillan comes in chewables. Ask your doctor for a new persciption. One of my sons is aweful with meds too. Best of luck!

You can definitely mix it - even with icecream! Chocolate sauce. You name it. Ask the pharmacist if you are concerned. Only thing I've found is that if they don't like the mixed taste - now they have a whole lot more stuff to get in them than the 1 tsp. or whatever the dosage is. My daughter is a wicked gagger - she gags if a piece of food is a little too big - and the amoxicillan always made her gag, even though she didn't mind the taste. Here's what we did - it's a bit strange, but for some reason it works for her. We put a bit of water in a cup - not a lot - maybe about 1/4 to 1/2 of the dosage of the medicine itself. This thins out the amoxicillan a bit. We put the amoxicillan in, and then we put an icecube in it. We use a straw to stir it up nice and cold, and then she drinks it down with the straw. I don't know why this works so well- I think the freezing cold numbs the tongue or taste buds or something, the water helps thin it out so the consistency is different, and the straw helps direct it down the throat.
Someone also told me there are pills that melt away - but I have yet to find out about those personally. There are definitely pills you could crush and mix with something.
Good luck.

Hi! My kids are now 11, 13, and 15, but we went through this! If it's the kind that's yellow or pink and in flavored liquid form, I'd recommend mixing it with a very small cup of something flavored and smooth like strawberry milk or yogurt, as it should not weaken the strength **if he drinks/eats it all** (the reason for only giving a small cup). I'm no doctor though, however it did work for me. Good luck!

My son will never take medicines either and he is almost 6! I get the chewables, crush them and mix with a spoonful of frosting. Not the healthiest way, but a little frosting isn't going to hurt and he's getting the medicine he needs. Good luck!

Kids are pretty smart at this age and the pharmacy will tell you that they can flavor it, which usually does not work. I have tried mixing with ice cream, chocolate pudding, applesauce, milk...to name a few and had no luck. I have tried blowing in their face while using the syringe type dropper and that did not work. I tried putting it in the back of their throat. It's a nightmare, so if you find a solution, please share.
I really don't know what these doctors are thinking when they prescribe this stuff for our kids. There are those one in a million kids who take it no problem and then there's mine and yours.

Hi M.,

I had the same problem with my Son so I mixed the medicine with jello mix.. Just add the powder mix to the amoxicillan and mix it up and tell him it's candy...

Good luck!

Since, my son who is 19 now, has gone through 3 sets of tubes in the ears, as well as chronic ear infections since he was a month old ,I consider myself knowledgeable in the art of disguising antibiotics. 1)Go to your pharmacy, at no extra charge they should be able to flavor the antiboitic, hence masking the taste. I know in my area they have so many fun flavors, kids won't even know the difference. 2)You can add it to yogurt(which keeps the good bacteria acidophilus) anyway. In a shake, or strawberry milk works good also. Hoped it helped!The ear infections lessened as he got older, thank goodness.

Amoxicillan is a yummy one! If he won't take that anyway, even with the help of reward charts (that he has helped make and picked the prize, etc) you will just have to force it into him. The key is to do drop, by drop, by painstaking drop. Squirt into his inner cheek. Otherwise he may not get all of it. Good luck!

Amoxicillan can be made in different flavors- if there is one that he would prefer more.
I always liked the banana flavor for my girls- because I can easily mix it in a blender with a banana and milk for a smoothie. I would just put about 1/4 of a cup in a tiny cup and mix in the meds- that way I knew they had taken it all. Then they could have a larger serving.
It works for us- and they got the extra fruit too!
You can always make up a large batch and keep it ready in the fridge for when he needs his dose.
-S.

Hi,
I have the same problem with my son and was told taht I could put it in pudding, or something else that he would like. It doesn't weaken the meds at all. Also, I have also been giving other meds, such as Zithromax instead becuase it's only a few doses and easier to make sure they get it!!

I get the vanilla chewable's!!!! They may even have different flavors. My youngest son has been using them since he was around you sons age. Just call your Dr. and ask him to change the prescription to chewables! Good LUCK!

After my kids take their medicine I have a chocolate kiss unwrapped and waiting for them to pop into their mouth. They suck on the chocolate and it gets rid of the yucky taste. Not the best way but it works for us! Good luck.