How can I give oral antibiotics to my autistic four-year-old?

[Boostarx]

My 4yo is autistic & non verbal.
he’s been given some antibiotics but it’s the oral solution. He’s got major sensory problems & the texture and taste are a real issue as he has an eating disorder which means he only has a few safe foods.
he won’t take it, he spits it out, we’ve tried everything & he’s getting so stressed about it. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can administer it? I can’t mix it into anything as I don’t want to cause a problem with a safe food & he only drinks water, so any change to colour or flavour will put him off

tia

i Have an autistic child I have no advice on how to get them to take it but if they don’t you may have to go to the hospital for an iv

Which one is it? Some of them are absolutely revolting so if it's one of those I'd at least ask for a different version from the doctors. He still won't want it but at least it won't be objectively rank.

Complete bribery? I would use chocolate buttons with dd (she’s autistic, ate very little but cognitively very advanced and could be bribed with chocolate or money)

Will he eat chocolate? Somebody told me once when my son had really disgusting or antibiotics to give him a big mouthful of chocolate. It sort of coats the mouth. Then you squirt the antibiotics in, quick drink and another mouthful of chocolate.

Bribery if there’s the communication to convey it?

We used to have one of us hugging our DS (arms and legs) and the other would get it down the side of the cheek in a capol squirter. It leaves little chance to spit it out.

While not great, it was less traumatic than attempting an IV. Anything of that nature he had to be pinned if not sedated.

We followed up with a squash and reassurance.

He’s 6 now and we negotiate with marshmallows. He has a comms device now which makes this much easier.

Ww found tablets were actually easier. You could try asking for tablets?

Sit them on your knee facing forward - whichever knee is the opposite to your non dominant hand. Tuck their arm nearest your body in against your body, hold them against you with your arm round them, using the hand to hold their outside arm down. Use your bodyweight to tip them back a bit. Using a medicine syringe held in your dominant hand, squirt the tiniest bit of the medication into the back, side of their mouth, along the cheek. Using the hand holding the syringe, immediately stroke firmly downwards on their throat and neck to encourage them to swallow. Repeat in tiny bits until it’s gone. Then bribe to high heaven with the highest value treat you have!

Chocolate first so it coats the mouth. Then mix the AB with chocolate sauce and pour that over ice cream. More chocolate after.

Good luck.

Will he take tablets? Get him to practice with smarties. I know he doesn't speak but does he understand enough to explain why he has to take and maybe accept a bribe?

If not, pin him down and force it down him. It has to be done.

My ds will only take meds from a calpol syringe and only if I give him to push the plunger down. Trying toforce him ends in a meltdown. Ds is 3 and non verbal.
You do risk them squirting it on the floor or wall but works most time rather than not

Thank you everyone for your help & suggestions @

I brought him to a&e
they don’t give it in tablet form at this age unfortunately, I asked.

he doesn’t understand bribery at all and because of his limited diet doesn’t have anything you can class as a treat.

i tried the holding technique with the massaging, its like he closes his throat up, so nothing will help.. I tried doing it in small bits but it was worse, to the point where he was choking/about to be sick