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Original poster

Can I mix pencillin with food/drink

29 replies

Useruser222 · 26/06/2023 19:39

My 6 year old has strep throat and been given penicillin liquid. She's had her first dose but she was crying so much and gagging a lot of it came back out. The label says it has to be taken on an empty stomach or 1 hour before food. She's due another dose soon and I'm wondering if I can mix it in a drink or some yoghurt but also worried it could stop the medicine working properly. I did Google it but got some conflicting results so looking for some advice from anyone who has been in the same situation. Thanks

OP posts:
N0tfinished · 26/06/2023 23:26

Millymay13 · 26/06/2023 22:17

If all else fails see if you can get the same medicine in capsule form. The last time my toddler had amoxycillin there was a shortage of the liquid and they gave me the capsules which can be opened up and the powder inside mixed with food. Way easier to get into him than the liquid as the powder is tasteless (can’t say this is the case for all varieties of penicillin though)

If you do decide to do this I've found this stuff a lifesaver: it's a specially designed gel to help people swallow tablets but I often crush or open capsules & mix it. I have a DS with ASD and it's been a lifesaver

Gloup Swallowing Gel

A friend who has a child with CF told me she floats a tiny bit of baby calpol on top Of very horrible medicines. Obviously you have to be careful with paracetamol, but im talking infant calpol and barely a ml of it.

greenacrylicpaint · 27/06/2023 06:49

when dc was a toddler with pneumonia we had a similar issue. we went back to gp and were prescribed the same active ingredient in capsule form.
we broke it open and mixed the powder with jam.

it was either that or hospital for iv (toddler was really really unwell)

wobblymum1 · 27/06/2023 12:28

All my sympathies My DD 6
was exactly the same with a strong gag reflex and just puked it back up. She has tonsillitis a lot. Some kids just have a stronger gag reflex than others and even if you force it they will puke it up.
At 6 she can have the pill form- I cut it into 4 and either hide it in yogurt or a piece of soft fruit, or now she can swallow it with water (takes some practice). Haven’t looked back since. Worth asking pharmacy to change liquid for pills which they can do without you having to go back to Gp.
hope she feels better soon xx

Original poster
Useruser222 · 27/06/2023 16:47

Thank you everyone for all the tips and advice. Mixing with juice didn't work but squirting it in to her cheek has been the most successful. She's still gagging and trying not to throw up but it's going down which is the main thing.

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