Can I sprinkle ADHD meds in milkshake for son?

This sounds so tough. Does he have ARFID or other forms of restricted eating? If so, there's the added jeopardy of him deciding to refuse a "safe" food going forward as you have tampered with it by adding the meds to it.

We didn't use liquid but had Equasym XL and emptied the capsule onto hot chocolate powder on a teaspoon, washed down with milk. Also PDA here. It is very hard and grinds you down x

Put them in the milkshake it’s something he takes regularly and you know he’ll take see how you get on. I think anything ‘new’ any perception you’re trying to get them to do something different will be met with refusal. They just know you want them to take it and the more you want it the more they push back. My son is 13 Autistic (pda) and adhd I feel for you op, it’s a blinking minefield. Mine was medicated but he took them (took tablets due to his asthma) then said they made him feel funny, changed them b then started to refuse his asthma meds and melatonin lost weight then put on weight and then refused to take them.

i totally understand how you feel and i would just stick to the norm and out it in something he already takes then see how it affects him you might find that it’s easier to negotiate or he’s more willing to do things he wasn’t before, it’s hard to tell sometimes until they are on meds for a while. Would letting him pick a treat you could put it in work? Dial the pressure on yourself back it’s tough though I get it x

It was the same for us @Ricecakesaremyjam - it took years to get a prescription. The first consultant didn’t believe in PDA (helpful!) and we had to formally complain about DS’ lack of treatment and get a new pediatrician. But since the new doc prescribed Methylphenidate (and 2 things for sleep) I’ve managed to get about 10mg in total into DS and the rest was wasted. We made the prescription last so long that the GP is now refusing to prescribe any more, and we’ve just had to wait over a year to get a follow-up appt with the pediatrician. I’m going in with a shopping list next time… 🙄

Ime though it doesn’t really help with the PDA side. It just helps DS to sit down and focus for more than 20 seconds at a time!!

Would it make a difference if school staff gave him medication?

Please ask for liquid version as it may be easier to administer.

My PDA DS has a sixth sense if he thinks I’ve messed about with his food, and always refuses too. His sensory issues mean that he can spot the tiniest change in texture or taste. It is relentless.

I’ve checked the BNF and liquid Methylphenidate is definitely available. I just can’t understand why it’s never been offered to DS. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Just checked my son's meds (Equasym XL) as I saw someone said you can't open the capsule with those, but I've been doing this since he started taking them and pouring the beads onto a spoonful or yoghurt or sometimes if I run out of yoghurt, onto a spoonful of whatever drink he has. He's 13 now so I make sure he gets every little bead.

However, it does say in the leaflet that you can open the capsule and sprinkle onto a spoonful of soft food.

@Ricecakesaremyjam ask for a prescription of liquid meds. I linked to bnf earlier, liquid ADHD meds are absolutely available on the NHS. Liquid medicine far easier to put in yoghurt.

My consultant rang Flynn Pharma and they said opening capsules was fine. (meflynate XL)

Sorry to hear your updates, how distressing. Does he like nutella? I find a spoonful of nutella in the am works as its so thick he cant see the meds (we practise with tic tacs but it's hard to guarantee you can relax your throat enough - even i struggle to swallow anything larger than paracetamol).

Does anyone find medication helps PDA symptoms?

I had the same issues, with a child that is a very fussy eater and doesn’t eat a single thing that was suggested I could use to hide it in. The only one possibility was chocolate mousse but he tasted it straight away. Although we had been having conversations about medication and potentially mixing with food so he was alert to it anyway.

I was told it was fine to open it but had to put it on something thicker and sticky as opposed to a liquid. So mouse, spread etc.

Anyway, we had the medication for months without getting wny into him. Eventually after many many conversations, he just decided one day to try it and has been fine ever since. Chooses not to take it at weekends or in holidays though.

I guess neither of them have PDA….

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/methylphenidate-hydrochloride/medicinal-forms/#oral-solution

Liquid meds are available on the NHS.

@Ricecakesaremyjam absolutely feel your pain. DS is 8 now and his peers are mostly able to swallow tablets, albeit only in the last year or so. I got DS some Calpol tablets that melt on your tongue in case it helped him get used to the idea of swallowing medicine. He screamed bloody blue murder and they went in the bin as well. Another FML moment!

Sorry I don’t have better advice, but you’re definitely not on your own. I will post on here after our appointment - fingers crossed for the liquid formulation - but feel free to PM me in the meantime.

Hang in there 💐

Have you tried just getting him to take the tablet? Might be worth a go as it will make life much easier. Maybe a little bribe or some reverse psychology if he is likely to give an automatic no without trying. I was very concerned about my son refusing/not being able to take his but it turns out he had no issues at all. Even does it without water.

Did you ask the Dr if there is a liquid form of the medication available? There seems to be liquid form for some ADHD meds, so it may be worth double-checking.

@Ricecakesaremyjam I have a child with ADHD with a PDA autistic profile and he also won’t (and I mean will not) take tablets. We have tried every fucking yogurt, sauce, pudding, drink, technique, trick, threat and bribe, even cash.

We are prescribed Medikinet but have been told by the pediatrician that removing the capsule contents and dissolving in yogurts etc reduces the potency of the drug by about 50%. That has a massive impact on titration. And in DS case, he notices there is “sand” in the yogurt and chucks it away anyway. I despair of ever getting the bloody meds into him.

In the USA they can administer Ritalin via patches (like HRT) but of course the NHS won’t do that. 🙄 I’m interested to read upthread that a liquid form is now available in the UK (albeit not on NHS). I have an appointment with the consultant on 11 February so I will ask. Happy to update this thread after that if it would be helpful?

Hang in there. PDA is - in the kindest possible way - a fucking nightmare for all concerned.

I would do the milkshake rather than risk more refused food
Stir it in hard into a small amount first then top up so it's distributed

Disclaimer that I don't have DC, just awkward cats who don't like medication either