Toddler 2.6 won't take antibiotics

[LittleBoyBlues]

I'm shaken by the process, trying to hold down a screaming toddler who's trying to spit/vomit, I just want to make him better.
I've been through 2 nights of this and hoped with talking about it and adding syrup, it might get better. I don't think I can face another round of it and I'm sure he feels the same. I resolved to contact the GP first thing but it's bloody Saturday tomorrow.
Should I go back to the pharmacist and ask for something different? could they do that without a new prescription? Where can I go? Doesn't he need to finish the full dose?
tia

forgot to mention, he has impetigo, it's around and inside his nose so I don't know if antibiotic cream would work.

Absolutely needs to finish the course if it's impetigo, otherwise it won't go and it is incredibly contagious. The medicine however is vile. We used to get a syringe from the calpol box and squirt it down the back of their throat so it went straight down no prospect of spitting it out. It's actually easier if they are crying then following up with some chocolate buttons.

Put it in a banana milkshake.

That's horrendous and brings back bad memories for me, you poor thing. From experience there is at least one antibiotic that comes in a cheaper (?) bitter flavoured version and a more palatable version, so it might be possible to switch prescriptions. Can you call out of hours GP to ask?

On another occasion I resorted to, literally, a spoonful of sugar with each dose. Gross but I was desperate.

Best of luck 💐

Yes are you syringing to back of throat? We had exactly this for impetigo. Only achievable with chocolate button bribery. Masses of the things. Sorry for you and your poor DC!

I'm syringing but I didn't know about the back of the throat thing. I'm trying to hold him and dose him on my own but he's strong and wants to wrestle, it's as much as I can do to get it in.
I'm already mixing it with syrup.
I hate doing it to him, it makes me want to weep. This evening after our bout he wouldn't look at me, he just took himself straight to bed, closed his eyes and wailed intermittently

I really feel for you OP, it's horrid. My DD has a condition which needs antibiotics fairly frequently, and if we can't get her to take them she gets admitted to hospital for IV abx. We use the syringe, DH sits her on his knee, pins down her arms down and holds her head. Syringe needs to be behind her teeth, fairly far back but touching the inside of her cheek. If in the correct place she can't spit it out. Just squirt quickly, then favourite drink straight into mouth. I have been able to do it on my own, but it's much easier with DH to hold her. It's awful, but it's necessary. I agree that a treat like chocolate buttons afterwards will help!

This is how (after many 10s of antibiotics for ds) I got them in him.
Catch and wrap in legs holding hands away in one hand. Put your hand under his chin.
Put syringe in (firmly closed) mouth, press medicine in them immediately put a chocolate button (or two) in, keeping hold of the chin slightly tilted upwards. Wait until swallowed.

It did work most of the time, although some of the yellow blotches round the lounge were not part of the original décor. He particularly hated banana medicine!
He's 10 now and in the last couple of years had been bribable with sweets. Just about anyway.

Get an out of hours and ask for a different antibiotic - sounds like they've given you a cheap one that tastes vile (have you tried it yourself?). Other antibiotics are available so make an appointment and ask to switch saying he won't take your current one.

And I second witchs approach if you chose to stick with this one or he doesn't want new one either - except I used to put my clean finger in mouth immediately after to stop them spitting it out and then reward straight after and to take away taste with a choc button or bit of fruit

Wrap him up in a towel, including his arms. Straddle him and hold his nose. Squirt with other hand.

He won't like it but he'll get better!