Why are children’s antibiotics so disgusting ??

[hoolqhup]

Does anyone have any tips ? My 5 year old was literally gagging, trying to taker her antibiotics last night.

she needs to take them 4 fucking times a day !

she has ezcema that has become a little bit infected, so I’ve been given antibiotic cream and oral antibiotics for 7 days. I put the cream on once last night and it’s almost completely cleared up. I may contact the GP today and ask if I can just stop, as she’s only had one dose.

but of course if the GP says she has to take it, I will proceed.

my DD is hysterical about it thought and absolutely hates the taste. I have given it to her with juice before and that half works, but surely there must just be a better way to get medicine like this into kids ? ? I’m so sick of it. I would not be able to swallow it without wrenching myself, so I do understand.

any tips ? I’ve tried to hold her nostrils shut, but it doesn’t really help and just makes the whole thing more traumatic for her..

The GP can prescribe the nice tasting ones. The ones you describe are the ones pharmacists can describe and are utterly revolting. I understand that they cost less

Yeah don't stop the antibiotics, sadly, even if it looks cleared up. I'm sure you know that already, and that the doctor is going to say the same. It's not how antibiotics work.

Also sadly, this is your child's first lesson (or one of) in having to do things she doesnt like doing. Feel for her. I bloody hate antibiotics, or ingesting anything I don't like to be honest. Maybe don't pinch her nostrils! A lot of sympathy and love maybe.

The amazing ladies in reception at DS's school managed to get really disgusting bitter antibiotics down him when he had spat it out for me. They offered a cup of water with ice straight after. Lots of ice and kid gets to hold it while taking dose.

We started doing it at home and it worked.

I’ve only given one dose, so I would not be stopping the antibiotics. One dose doesn’t clear up an infection - it was the antibiotic cream that’s cleared it.

It’s because penicillin and penicillin type antibiotics genuinely taste disgusting. Pharmaceutical companies disguise the taste somewhat with sweeteners and flavors but it’s difficult to make penicillin palatable. Kids are not good at swallowing pills so it’s hard to put them in a capsule form for young kids too.

Mix in with peppa pig yoghurt, tried others but they weren't strong enough to disguise the taste!

Can she swallow pills? Could you ask for pills instead?
When I was a kid antibiotics tasted of banana, I wonder if there's a strong flavouring you can add to it so she can take it or a few drops of liquid sweetener. Could you ask your pharmacist if things like that would be safe or if they would affect the medicine?

Bribe her with sweets to eat immediately after. I managed to convince mine once with a rolo after medicine to take the taste away.

You're right though, they are absolutely disgusting.

We had 10 lots one year for Ear infections. Only way in the end was make a strong milkshake put it in cup with a straw. Add the medicine.

I feel for you. It’s horrible and a struggle !

It can be worth talking to the pharmacist about this though. Sometimes kids tolerate one added flavor better than others. I could never swallow the banana flavor but the orange or strawberry ones were gross but tolerable.

Or be ready with a piece of chocolate? Medicine down chocolate in

Some can be prescribed with flavours, most I assume, but my DD had one when she was 3 for a UTI which didn’t come flavoured and it tasted disgusting. It was such a battle to get it in her. She was allowed some sweets after each dose but even then it was a battle. It is important to finish the course.

When ds was that age we made a chart with all the doses so that he could tick them off, with the promise of a toy or something at the end of it.

Antibiotics for children used to be prescribed in a liquid suspension, easily swallowed. Is this no longer a thing?

Different drugs taste different. I think the really bitter one is flucloxacillin. The not so bad banana type one is amoxicillin. I have previously asked GP to switch as DC was not tolerating the bitter one and this was possible in our case. I’m not sure why they give the bitter one but presumably it is more likely to work (but only if child will swallow it!). I sympathise it really does taste horrific even to an adult (but as an adult you would get capsules so don’t taste it)

I asked our doctor to prescribe the chewable ones- so much better!

Urgh, are they still? I remember they were always 'banana flavoured' liquids in the 70s and 80s. I have always hated bananas anyway but banana-flavoured penicillin was the pits. I was so glad when I was old enough to take tablets, or rather the doctor considered me old enough to take tablets, as I have actually never had a problem taking tablets myself, even when small.

My DD can’t even manage calpol without being sick so no chance with antibiotics, the dr gave us tablets when she got a water infection they so much easier for her. If the dr wants her to complete the course I’d ask if you can try tablets instead.

It is tough but agree you can't really stop after one dose.
We've done 2 days out of 14 for our 15 month old.

Cuddle him tight, quick but firm syringing it into his mouth mixed with some yoghurt. Jam visible on the side ready for a treat afterwards.

He cries during but is fine afterwards.

We had some success with jelly babies over the years as we don't really allow sweets that are just sugary rubbish. A jelly baby is high contraband here. 7 yr old will now do just about anything for a sip of sugar free fizzy juice

Amoxicillin liquid can be alright tasting. DD2 was prescribed it at 6 weeks and swallowed it just fine so she must have been given a sweeter option.

Flucloxacillin is absolutely foul, and impossible to disguise the taste of.

It’s a few years ago but I remember going back to the GP to get the antibiotics changed as they were making my DS sick- I think it was the white one and tasted revolting. The GP was happy to change.

Personally I think it’s because GPs now routinely prescribe the cheapest version which I also think is sugar free (unlike the ones I had when I was younger- the gloopy banana one).

Having neurodiverse children this is something I deserve a PhD in! Penicillin V is utterly vile and is impossible to make palatable. Ask for an alternative - co-amoxyclav is generally a decent alternative to pen V and has a pretty neutral flavour that disguises well. Then if necessary (definitely necessary for one of mine). Mix that with a very heaped spoonful of Nutella. The texture changes a bit but the taste is totally disguised. I don't worry about the Nutella as most sick kids have a poor appetite anyway and the extra energy is helpful!

Well this is a load of rubbish..! Medicines generally taste bitter, sometimes the flavour can be disguised, but sometimes not.

@hoolqhup are you using a spoon or an oral syringe? A syringe might work better as you could skoosh it further into the mouth. I do sympathise, I'm in my 30s and still remember spitting a liquid antibiotic on the kitchen floor as a child as it was so disgusting. I think it was probably metronidazole.

I always bribed mine with haribo when they were little (something they didn’t generally get). One in each hand, ready for after. Now they’re older, they have a squash drink ready to drink as soon as it’s done