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..

Nope. The banana one was and still is amoxicillin. Different antibiotics will have different flavourings, and some of the medicines will be more difficult to mask than others. GPs generally prescribe generically, they don't specify which brand of liquid to give.

I had to ring my GP to swap the one that was prescribed for my child. It was revolting and she couldn’t have it. They changed it to amoxicillin and she had that fine.

If it's 4 times a day, is it flucloxacillin?

That liquid is notoriously revolting. Ask for something else.

I suspect op has been prescribed Flucloxacillin which is used for skin complaints. It tastes really disgusting and there is nothing they can do about it. It is nothing to do with cost , just horrible tasting but first call for skin problems

DS will take them regardless, with a big grimace and a slurp of orange juice after, we've just explained they're not nice they're not meant to be, but they will make you better, stop the pain in your throat etc. He pinches his nose and just swallows them. He had a fair run of tonsillitis at 4-5. You could give a chocolate button or something after to take the taste away

Maybe but on one occasion I definitely remember we were prescribed a version of the same antibiotic which had sugar (I think there were even two versions on the GPs drop down menu) and the one with sugar was so much better tasting.

Nothing disguises it!!!

This is the problem. Liquid antibiotics taste disgusting and as pp said flucloxacillin is the worst.

A 5yo might be able to swallow capsules. There are youtube videos from pharmacists and children’s nurses showing the technique in even 3 year olds.

Use a syringe,side of the mouth so you bypass the tongue and it goes to the back of the mouth.

Let her hold a drink or a piece of chocolate.

Is it penicillin V I found that one a real struggle. I learnt to request the next one along amoxicillin. Partly as banana flavour and much better tolerated but also its three doses a day which is much more manageable with school.

If you look at the linked doc below (prepared by the NHS about shortages) it shows that there are various antibiotics (fluxocillin, Cefalaxin, amoxicillin) which have sugar free and “normal” versions in oral solution. IME it was the sugar free ones which were impossible to get down my DC.

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2023-01/SSP044~1.PDF

I mixed it with jam, started with more Jane that antibiotics and gradually reduced the amount. DD was a toddler so there was no reasoning with her and no way of stopping her spitting or throwing it up if it went down without her cooperation

By the end of the course she was very unhappy to stop the spoonfuls of jam and kept asking for it for a while

From the age of 4 I refused, so got tablets instead.

I managed it for myself but immediately popping the tablet then straight away a swig of coke, yes not super healthy but the coke has a really strong flavour and flushes the tablet straight down, then another little swig to clear any taste.

I certainly don't advocate coke for 5 year olds but for this I would. The can then goes back in the fridge until the next tablet.

This
i was formulation chemist for a manufacturer of Augmentin in late1980s
we were removing sugar and artificial flavours at that time
penicillin and almost all antibiotics are very bitter. Some of more powerful ones are the most bitter
we “disguised” the bitterness with the flavouring profile…sharp/sour flavours up front to literally trick you into thinking it’s meant to be bitter…then creamy flavouring end notes to linger on taste buds to disguise the back end “shudder” effect.
theres also, unfortunately, some people who have taste sensitivity to Sucinnic acid that is also abit like a burning sour taste (most can’t taste it in low quantities). It’s used to balance ph of formulations sometimes. That doesn’t help if your kid is one of those that can taste it
but if your kids on something like fluoxacillin, it’s incredibly bitter, and all flavourings and science in world won’t make it taste nice.

hence why as adults it’s way better to take tablets…people don’t think about that mostly…a lot of meds are a real challenge to formulate as palatable pediatric suspensions ( liquids)

do you think your 5 year old could manage a tablet? Some can…as you say it’s vital not to stop course, but if she can’t get them down then talk to Gp on phone and see if there’s an alternative or even give a tablet a go.

Yep, as formulation scientist working on penicillins it’s true…the sugar free formulations don’t cover the bitterness as well…sugar actually helps as it creates a sweet solution, versus sugar free suspensions.
though I didn’t realise you could still get sugar based formulations…thought those went out years ago!

Yes this is right, doctor prescribed us amoxicillin and pharmacist gave us the suger free version which DS wouldn’t touch. I had to get a new prescription then call around other pharmacists in the area to find one that stocked the sugary option!

He took the second lot no problem.

I was late learning to take tablets and can remember the liquids.

Honey was the only thing that even vaguely masked the taste

Is it the disgusting gritty white one?! My son had this for ages after a hospital admission - we did quickly swallow and box for apple juice with straw immediately - like almost the same second! I feel your frustration - I had soooo many antibiotics as a kid and always got 'banana medicine' and loved it!!!

Depends. I decided around the op's dd's age that I wasnt having medicine anymore, I was having tablets - and it was fine (other than having to convince pharmacists because they didn't believe my mother when she went to collect prescriptions).

Just had this prescribed last week for my little one it’s honestly the worst, strongest tasting medicine ever!
I got in touch with my GP who switched it to something a bit more manageable (erythromycin)

Can she swallow a tablet? If so, you can ask for them in pill form.

Otherwise bribe, threaten and explain. When my DD had to take them (age 5) and hated them I explained why, said she didn’t have to like them, and allowed her to swear after taking them. She still hated it but was entertained enough to take them. She would end up saying “This poopy poop medicine tastes like rotten strawberries”, though she did enjoy experimenting with more colourful language a few times. Whatever works.

@Limehawkmoth this was so interesting to read, thank you.