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Original poster

Help! DS won't take his antibiotics

12 replies

CallyR · 02/05/2009 20:07

My 18mth old son has tonsilitis diagnosed yday and we just cannot get him to take the penicillin. He will happily take Calpol and Nurofen but spits it out. Tried putting it in food but he noticed. The pharmacist was v unhelpful when I asked if there was an alternative telling me to pin him down and hold his nose. She said "If we want our children to get better, we have to endure a little hardship"?!?!?!? Have just had an horrendous episode trying to syringe it into his mouth. Both of us got very distressed. I need an answer - help! (sad)

OP posts:
tiggerlovestobounce · 02/05/2009 20:13

Could you bribe him? Not ideal usually, but for something short term and very important like this it might be OK?

What flavour is it - I found that banana milkshake was a good thing to mix banana flavored medicine with.

Original poster
CallyR · 02/05/2009 20:17

It's a hideous red colour put is obviously not as tasty as Calpol ha ha. Will try bribery tomorrow. (wink)

OP posts:
MadamDeathstare · 02/05/2009 20:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SlightlyMadSwineFlu · 02/05/2009 20:19

is it flucloxicillin? Go back and ask for an alternative - all children hate it and if you taste it yourself you will see why (doesn't really help you over the weekend though).

tassisssss · 02/05/2009 20:23

my dd had similar over Christmas when she was 2.3. We stirred each dosage into no fewer than 3 little star yogs!! Bit drastic and a ridiculous amount of yogurt to buy, but it worked. Huge sympathy, it's grim. I really don't understand why they prescribe something for kids that tastes so utterly vile.

Original poster
CallyR · 02/05/2009 20:24

It's phenoxymetholpenicillin. Luckily his temp has come down and he does seem to be on the mend. He's friends with his dummy again (phew) and is eating etc. We're back at the doctors first thing on Tuesday so will just hope some of it is getting inside him and doing some good.

OP posts:
SlightlyMadSwineFlu · 02/05/2009 20:26

careful though cos many ABs are not bsorbed with food,

Original poster
CallyR · 02/05/2009 20:26

thanks tassisssss. I'll have to try the yogurt thing without him seeing me! I can remember hating all medicine as a child. Ours should be grateful for Calpol!

OP posts:
MaryBS · 02/05/2009 20:31

I mix DS's with melted chocolate. Its the only way to hide the taste. Tried yoghurt.

SlightlyMadSwineFlu · 02/05/2009 22:30

Just checked regarding food (was trying to MN one handed earlier). phenoxymetholpenicillin is one of the antibiotics which is more seriously affected when taken with food. It's effectiveness will be significantly reduced if food is eaten within 30mins (either side) of taking it.

MaryBS · 03/05/2009 07:59

Its difficult, because if they hate the taste, then you can either disguise the taste or give them something to eat afterwards. It may lower the effectiveness, but its not a whole lotta fun WEARING the medicine because the instinctive reaction of the child is to spit it out. And my son is 7, so he knows what is coming...

Original poster
CallyR · 03/05/2009 08:22

We diluted it slightly with water in his beaker this morning which has worked better than the pinning him down option.

thanks for the info on food

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