Sneaking in Medication

As Mary Poppins says, "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down". A small amount of a "treat like substance" to get him to take medicine to prevent brain damage isn't a bad thing. The ice cream is NOT a treat in this situation, it's a good tasting vehicle to take nasty medicine with.

And she can be honest with him about the yummy stuff so that the yucky stuff won't be so bad. My son likes to give himself his medicine, so if there's a way for her to work WITH him to take his medicine then that's the way to go. I'm so proud of my son when he takes the yucky medicine and drinks down his juice to make the taste go away. I get goofy about it with him so he thinks it's funny and it usually works.

How about going to a compound pharmacy and see what they can do with it or have suggestions as to what she can mix it with?? I have a cat that is on anxiety meds and I have to get it made a special way so I can rub it into the inside of her ear because to take the pill itself is very bitter. But they can add flavor to things, put them in special capsils for easy swallowing and mix it into thing to make it easier to take to.

S.

Hmmm. I know he's young, but can he swallow tablets? Apparently biotin is available that way. The way you described it in your post sounds like a liquid or a paste. Maybe a tablet that could be crushed up and mixed with something palatable?
I'm sure your sister doesn't want him to get used to having ice cream every day, but if it turns out that's the only way he'll take it, I think she would weigh the costs and benefits and just do whatever she needs to do to get the supplement into the child.

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Someone may have already mentioned this, I didn't take time to read all the responses so sorry if this is regurgitated info:

Ask the pharmacist if the vitamin can handle high heat. I am able to bake some of my sons supplements into things like muffins, banana bread, scones etc...I've also been known to mix supplements in these various ways:

Scrape out the filling of "oreo" cookies and mix it up then slap the cookie back together.

Fruit Smoothies (healthier than the ice-cream you mentioned)

Mashed potatoes

PB&J sandwich

Sprinkle it over chips and melt some cheese on top

**I also learned a trick from a doctor, Apricot actually takes the bitterness out of pills. Add a little apricot preserves to some toast and see if he'll take it that way.

Good luck, it's a pain I understand but important!

Poor little guy. I'm not sure I know of any great ways to hide it besides the apple sauce and smoothies. I would call the pharmacist and ask him a couple of things. One would be is there another formulation of this medicince that would be easier to get down. Two, can they flavor it in a way that would make it more appealing. And three, what are his time tested tricks to get that kind of medicine into a kid.
Oh, and you might ask if it matters if it is mixed into hot or cold foods. My sister used to mix my nephews medicine into mashed potatoes and then found out that the heat killed the active part of the medicine!
Good luck!

What about a smoothie of some sort? Or maybe one of those yogurt drinks? Pudding? I have to give my daughter her medicine in applesauce since she refuses to swallow the capsule. But it's not as grainy and thick as what you are describing.

why not give him foods that are high in biotin such as Cauliflower, Carrots, Bananas and Romaine Lettuce? Is he also on magnesium? As biotin depletes magnesium which will cause him to have muscle pains and constipation.
I agree with no ice cream. Just teaching him to eat junk food. There is this great powder called Amazing Grass and they have a children't formula. She can take some juice or almond milk and put it in a glass and stir with the added biotin or put it in a blender with some frozen fruit. It's really nice and great clean vitamins.

Some pills just taste awful no matter what you put them in. I would suggest she make a game out of taking it whole. I think the youngest of my kids was two when they learned the oldest 3 so it is do able.

I second the suggestion to ask your doc about biotin rich foods. If I remember correctly (and you can probably google it to find out for sure) a half a cup of peanuts has over twice the daily recommendation of biotin for adults. adult RDA is 30 micrograms - so peanuts would have 60+ micrograms. make sure to ask your doc first, and be sure the little guy doesnt have a peanut allergy! off the top of my head I remember pork, bananas, papaya, sweet potatoe, carrots and tomatoe sauce all have biotin. poor little guy!

Try it in oatmeal. Also, nutella spread. Looks like chocolate and tastes super yummy but it's as good for you as peanut butter.

When my son was 2 he had to take a supplement. It had to be smashed up and then given to him in some way. My son happened to like syrup. So I would smash it up in a bowl and then put a couple of tablespoons of syrup in the bowl, mix it up and give it to him. It was not the consistancy of powder and there was definately some that was grainy, but the syrup seemd to cover it over. Well he loved it. It was only temporary, but as they grow older and understand better you can change to something else. If your sister is worried about the high fructose corn syrup, Log Cabin makes one without. Good Luck, I know how hard it is.

What about mixing in a smoothie?

Or is their any possibility of having it flavored at the pharmacy?

I hide my kiddos meds in a spoonful of peanut butter.

Are you trying the liquid form or the pill form?
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UT...

I have to hide my son's melatonin in juice/choc or straw milk/ applesauce/mac n cheese. With more info I may be able to help but I do not know if you are trying the liquid form or not, that makes a difference.

I wonder if she could mix it up in a smoothie? like maybe yogurt and fruit smoothie stuff is she blends it in would it be better?

When my son was taking medicine before he could swallow the pills I tried everything the yogurt, applesauce, ice cream and then I tried peanut butter and that worked slick!! He was willing to take it everyday and there was no more fighting.

Sometimes it helpes to hide the medication in foods that it is found in so, she could try Tuna, bananas, Peanuts or peanut butter (if he is not allergic) Sweet potatoes but I would think that Pasta sauce (red) would be really helpful, Avacado's (guacamoli might work). None of those would really be a daily thing but might find a few that would work. Oh and Apple cider with cinimon can hide a LOT of flavors (apple cider NOT apple juice!) Best of luck sometimes it is not easy...oh and a little more below.

Something i have read "Dd's favorite treat right now is chocolate lollipops - chocolate melted with coconut oil, bone meal and biotin. I think there's about 3-4mg biotin and 100mg calcium in each. She LOVES them.

My treat right now is peanut butter mixed with coconut oil, lots of cinnamon and some cocoa and shredded coconut and honey. Then I added bone meal, milk thistle, lots of biotin, and a little folate. I can eat it by the spoonful - it tastes like candy. Dd was intrigued, but didn't try more than a little bit. Then I rolled it all into little balls, with her on my lap, and she grabbed one. I'm not sure how much she ate and how much just melted in her fist but it was interesting to see that the form/presentation totally mattered to her. "

Sometimes if it is important and at this age you just need to let them have the treet to get it in. As they get older you can ween off of the treats.

Instead of ice cream how about frozen yogurt?