Autistic teen can't take antibiotics

[BellaBaxter]

DS (15 ASD) has been prescribed antibiotics (liquid as he cannot take tablets). He absolutely cannot tolerate the taste. Years ago we sat for over an hour with an amoxicillin laced milkshake only for him to throw the whole lot up.
He can not be bribed or forced. It is literally a physiological gag reflex when he tastes it, so even if I force it in it will come straight back up. He's currently locked in the bathroom.
He has a chest infection and really needs to take this - any tips?

He'll have to have an injection.

What antibiotic is it? Is it amoxicillin, or something else? Is there nothing strong tasting it can be mixed with - I think amoxicillin liquid has a fairly mild taste that's relatively easy to cover. Is it more that he knows it's in there and thinks he can taste it?

Oh I dread this day. I've no idea OP so sorry. Hope you manage to sort something so he feels better soon.

You could try mixing it with something or chasing it with something, maybe a strong mint immediately after for example? I had a horrible liquid medicine a few months ago and even the smell of it made me gag so I mixed it with a tiny bit of lemonade and basically shotted it and put a mint in my mouth immediately after.

The alternative is he will end up in hospital having them via IV, so explain that to him. My sister also hates and really struggles to take medicine but when she knows the alternative is hospital, a cannula, blood tests etc, she quickly realises the medicine is the lesser of two evils.

Be sure that this is an option though before you use it as a threat - I really struggle with medicine (thankfully fine with tablets) and would choose hospital and IV over taking a medicine that tasted awful!

Go back and talk to the pharmacist that dispensed it and describe the situation. Ask about flavouring it differently or suppositories.

Like @SeaToSki ’s suggestions.

Also, try orange juice with a squeeze of lime in. A drink with a bitter edge to it is more likely to disguise the taste. Do discuss with the pharmacist as they may be able to give you a different preparation.

Would he be able to take tablets if they were crushed and mixed in something ?
What's his understanding like my autistic teen has the cognitive ability of a toddler so zero understanding
But assuming that's not the case
Does he understand ,not taking the medication could make him very unwell?

Can he hold his nose/wear a nose clip so he can't taste it, then immediately have something else in his mouth before letting go of his nose. A mint is a good idea as pp, or sweets, liquorice.

If he's unsure if it will work maybe he could try the nose holding with something else first so he can see that you can't really taste with a blocked nose.

It's co amoxiclav. They tried the yellow amoxicillin first and just looking at it made him gag. Tbh they both taste the same so not sure it makes a difference.

Thank you 🙏

I think for him, "shottjng" it is the worst option as that's more likely to make him gag/vomit. He isn't keen on mints but will try a haribo or some chocolate. Thanks.

It's the hospital pharmacy - he's been discharged but they're going to call later to see how he's getting on. I will see how things go...

Good idea will try this

Yes he can take crushed tablets in yoghurt etc but he struggles with the taste.

He does understand and he knows he has to take it but it's just an involuntary reaction.

I've mixed it with a caramel syrup and he's been spooning tiny amounts into his mouth for a while so first dose done 👍

I've explained that his body just needs to get used to the strange taste. Fingers crossed for the rest of the course 😩

This is a good idea - will try this thanks

I syringed it into chocolate fudge cake for my dd who is the same.

Just echoing another poster.

I got my DS (16) who has ASD to take his medicine with a sweet before, then he held his nose , swallowed the medicine and immediately had another sweet whilst still holding his nose to take the taste away.

i do appreciate each child with ASD will be different so I don’t know if this approach will work for you .

It’s the only way I can get him to take medicine .

Good luck and I wish him better very soon.

Yes please don't allow any 'shotting' of medicine as this is extremely dangerous.
It's like when you take a shot of alcohol, it has a different effect. I shotted some cough medicine once and within 30 seconds I had intense chest pain and threw up, it was very scary.

Ground up tablets in Nutella here.

I was very late to learn to take tablets.

Left to find my own solution, I found pushing the tablet as far back in my mouth with my fingers means it basically goes down immediately without you noticing the taste.

If that doesn't work, crushing tablets in honey is the best way to disguise the taste. Liquids are generally the worst option as they are designed to taste vile.

Mix it with something strong tasting like lemon squash and drink through a straw but put the straw as far to the back of the mouth as he can tolerate. Bypasses the majority of his taste buds then.

That or do tablets, put them inside a straw or the top of a sports bottle and just gulp it quick. Then he doesn't feel them as they float in the drink and go straight down the throat.

Have also had success with getting them to put tablet in Nutella or jam, pretend to chew it then swallow. Chewing motion activates the muscle memory then you swallow automatically.

Oh OP hugs to both of you, I hope he starts to feel better soon.

I was the same for YEARS - I could not take tablets and the taste of liquid medicines led to many, many tears.

Once he's recovered from this, I'd try and work through the issues with swallowing tablets. I cracked it aged 27 and it's been a game changer. For me, it was just understanding that I swallow larger pieces of food than a tablet all the time (and utter desperation when feeling horrific at work with a cold) that got me over that mental block.

I had to have a chat, with plenty of time showing what was meant online, with my autistic child (who also has ARFID) and explain the options were liquid, tablet or IV. We managed to struggle through getting enough tablets in which were deemed the better option.

Good luck.

We went through exactly the same thing last summer OP. We never resolved it (although the infection eventually cleared up without antibiotics).
It was this episode of trying EVERYTHING and failing, lots of tears, daily conversations with the GP, that eventually led to a CAHMS referral. DD is now being assessed for ADHD/Autism.
Sorry I don’t have any solutions but I'm hoping some support/CBT might help DD with her issues with taking medicine and trying new foods/drinks.
It's weirdly reassuring to find this thread and realise this is a common problem.