Can't get DS to take medicine

[Puffinlover]

Been to GP this morning, DS2 has tonsillitis. Been prescribed 7 days of antibiotics. Cannot get him to take it!! He's 6 and really funny about sweet stuff anyway ie hates juice, squash etc will only drink water, hates Calpol which most kids love. Have spent a hour begging, pleading, threatening, bribing but no joy. He tried some gagged made himself sick. Having an absolute melt down over the meds. All very stressed and upset. My question is, if he does not take any meds, will it get better on its own? Or do I need to find a way to make him?

[DeWe]

Ds (also 6yo) is an expert in not taking antibiotics.

What I do now, is get him distracted on the computer. Tell him he is having it, no discussion (pause while he tells me he's going to die from the taste, I hate him etc...) hold him under the chin with his head tilted a little up (stops him spitting it out) put the spoon in, and immediately put a chocolate drop in. He can't then get the medicine out without the chocolate drop!

Other options are bribery: doesn't work with him though. Works with my older ones.
Or giving a choice. "Either you

[BaldricksTurnip]

My five year old gets recurrent ear infections requiring antib's. The ones he gets prescribed also taste and smell like death. What works for him is buying a bottle of ready mixed chocolate milkshake and mixing the medicine in with about half an inch of milkshake in a cup. He will happily drink it then. You could try ice cream mushed up if your ds doesn't like milkshakes.

[Puffinlover]

Thank you both for the tips and reassurance. I have managed to get him on side and he has now taken it twice today with me rather than DH who was trying this morning while I was at work (thanks DeWe for that idea!!). I'm off tomorrow and weds so fingers crossed he keeps on being brave. He's v proud of himself and has had lots of praise from aunties and grandparents this evening!!

[MERLYPUSS]

With my DTs I line up a spoon of medicine and a spoon of ice cream syrup side by side. They take the medicine immediately followed by the ice cream syrup (yes, it is incredibly sweet but the physical action of trying to swallow the gluey stuff forces the vile taste away). They get to choose which syrup so they feel in control. Not failed yet ..........

[Willthisworknow]

My son hated the taste but we tried to put in milk. Can u do this?

[Tuhlulah]

My Hv advised me to allow child to take the medicine himself, shaking, pouring and putting in mouth. It did work for a while.