Tablet antibiotics

[autumndays2]

Hi, DD8 has scarlet fever and was given a prescription for antibiotics.
All chemists here have run out of the liquid type so had to take tablets. She isn't able to swallow the tablets, even when cut in 1/4.
So I'm grinding them and mixing with a spoonful of yoghurt but it still tastes disgusting.
Just wondered if anyone had this issue before and what was best to mask the taste (NB they are supposed to taken on an empty stomach).

Thanks

That’s what I’d do too. Is there something strong tasting she can take after, like a drink of strong squash ?

Put the crushed solution in a little bit of diluted blackcurrant ... you need something with a strong flavour to mask the bitter taste.
Don't worry too much about if given with a little food , it's better to get a dose than nothing.

DD is having a swig of vimto straight after. Next one she has I will try mixing it with strong vimto rather than the yogurt, thanks.

It's so tricky getting the x 4 in during the day. GP said she can go back to school early next week. Although I haven't got clue how I will fit all the doses in then

Have you checked with a pharmacist they are safe to be crushed? Not all medications can be.

have you tried the tablet in a spoonful of jam?

Will your child’s school administer medication ? Not all of them do.

This is the current guidance due to the national shortage of liquid antibiotics

This. Some medications have to stay in the original form to work properly don't they ? That's what I learnt during medication training in care homes.

Have you tried some of these tips?
www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk/advice-guides/general-advice-for-medicines/helping-your-child-to-swallow-tablets/
Its an official website and leaflet kids hospitals give out to children who have to take lots of meds

My mum used to crush them and give them to me in a spoonful of jam.

It's phenoxymethylpenicillin, when I spoke to the pharmacist they said that the government were trying to get guidance updated with regards grinding the tablets because of the liquid shortage. I'll double check though.

Thanks for all the replies, will try the other suggestions as well. I think if it was in jam or something like that I could get away with cutting in 1/4.

I tried to teach her how to swallow, but I think she was finding it tricky as she has a sore throat

Dep Head pharmacist was just in the radio explaining this, it is absolutely safe.

My mum used to give them to me on a spoonful of honey. We did extensive experimentation and it was the only thing that hid the taste.

Teach her to take tablets. I did from a very early age as they both refused liquid preparations.

start with peas, move on to tictacs. Once they get the idea tablets are a doddle.

I taught myself as a kid as we had to clear our plates before being allowed up from the table. Anything I hated I cut up small and just swallowed.

still hate peas now!

When w
My 2yr old had to take tablets not available in liquid form, we practiced swallowing them using smarties, tictacs and m&ms... It is actually very useful to have children who can take tablets generally so worth doing in the long term!

Nutella works quite well to hide the taste if she likes it. It's definitely fine to crush the tablets.

The honey went down well