DD won't take antibiotic...desperate 😫

[Greenginghamdress]

DD has a bad ear infection. She was prescribed fluoxacillin and we just can't get it down her. She's had a little but now won't take it and I've tried everything. In desperation I've tried pinning her down but she won't swallow it. I know this was cruel 😢 and we both ended up in tears.
Her outer ear is very infected and her temperature keeps rising. MIL told me she may be at risk from meningitis and I'm terrified.
How can I get these antibiotics down her?

We had awful problems with my daughter at age 4. She's autistic and couldn't tolerate the nasty taste.

The solution that worked was to go back to the doctor and ask for an antibiotic in a capsule. They are slippery capsules that if taken with a wet mouth are really easily swallowed. Tablets don't work as they stick.

We discovered this accidentally when I was trying to get vitamin capsules into her. They are really easy to swallow and have no taste.

Might be with a try. It was a Godsend discovering this.

Be aware that fluclox needs to be taken on an empty stomach so mixing with food is not advised if you want it to work effectively.
Try a spoonful of sugar after (Mary Poppins knows best!) or a lollipop. It is truly vile though so if you can get amoxicillin that would be better.

i don’t know if anyone has already suggested this but we have the exact same problem to the point where he just wasn’t getting better despite several days on antibiotics as we weren’t getting enough down him, the dr then prescribed another antibiotic which was stronger (I assume) so rather than forcing down 4 x 5ml each day it was 2 x 2.5ml. Still not easy, but easier as just a lot less to get in!

Could be a possibility? The next time he needed them I told anther dr about the above and they were happy to prescribe it straight away.

@Greenginghamdress my eldest has ASD (5 years) and huge sensory difficulties. Any cream or medicine prescribed brings me out in a cold sweat let alone him. One thing I've found is giving him control has helped so much. He chooses the syringe, he pumps it in, he holds his drink to wash it away. He needs the control.

I'm all for non negotiables, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. But rather than bribing, pinning or hiding - ask her how she would take it. Give her the control, explain it has to go in but she can choose how and give her ways to wash it away or take the taste away after. I hope she's feeling better soon.

Oh also an end helps my lad. Crossing doses off so he knows it finishes soon .

A blob of yoghurt or chocolate button wont mean the child doesnt have an empty stomach though.

HNRTFT but definitely don’t force her to take it …she will end up being sick ..been there and done it !! At 4 try any kind of bribery…sweets ,choc ,trip to toy shop !!
Good luck💐

So much hysteria on this thread.

Meds are non-negotiable. A calm and constant reiteration of that will probably make fuck all difference. She’s four. She knows it tastes like shit now. Sweet treats might help but there will still be flappy screaming beforehand. A swift and unwelcome administration via syringe is often the quickest way (and arguably less traumatic as the cortisol levels won’t raise as there won’t be that horrible anticipation build up with screaming) swiftly followed by a milkshake to remove the taste.

Yep, shoot to the back of the mouth while holding a bar of chocolate in front of her. Do it at the table and she doesn't get down until she takes it. I wouldn't pin a 4 year old down,I absolutely would with a younger child though.

I have 3 children. They're older now but were all awful when antibiotics were needed when they were younger. After much experimenting we found that a half pint of thick chocolate milk completely disguised any tastes and was a treat as its not something we would normally buy. With one of mine I didn't even tell him it was in there. Just said the calcium would make his body strong and the chocolate was a treat cos he felt yucky.

We did a little mixture of pinning down which was not fun and she spat it out. We then moved to bribery. Take the medicine, have a drink standing by to take the taste away- then they get whatever they want 😂. Chocolate, tv, toy, McDonald’s, Disney plus subscription -whatever it takes!
Good luck.