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SN children

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Original poster

I cant get liquid meds into DS, please help.

19 replies

mishymashy · 15/02/2012 16:42

We have been given a huge bottle of anti Bs to give Ds who is 3.9 and has CP.

He has to have them because of very enlarged lymph all around neck that havent gone down so the next step is hospital for biopsies and blood tests which will be even more traumatic for him.

He has severe oral sensory issues which restricts his diet so how on earth do we get the meds into him.

He has just had some which meant the most horrendous distress for him and me but it involves me literally having to battle with him physically and him gagging and screaming.

Any ideas, i cant bare to see him in such a state and we have to give them 4 times a day.

TIA

OP posts:

LadySybilDeChocolate · 15/02/2012 16:45

Do you have a syringe? A little biy at a time usually works, or you can try to mix it in with a yogurt if he'll eat one of these. Is he NG fed at all?

Original poster

mishymashy · 15/02/2012 17:06

Yes, we are tying to use a syringe but even squirting to the side of his cheek means it being all pushed out by his tongue.

We longed for the NG to be removed but now it has we realise it did have it uses!

I really dont know what we can try as an alternative.

Thankyou for answering.

OP posts:

Triggles · 15/02/2012 17:12

weirdly enough DS2 will now drink meds from an egg cup. and it used to take two of us, full body hold, squirting in back of mouth and trying to keep himfrom spitting it all back out.

LadySybilDeChocolate · 15/02/2012 17:22

You could try thickening it up? Will he suck the syringe if you coat it in something sweet and put the end in his mouth?

SallyBear · 15/02/2012 17:31

My nearly 5yr old (ASD) will not take meds at all. The only way is to mix them into a sweet drink. We are thankful that he doesn't get sick, but we have found that the best way to give him anti-bees is to use a capsule form and use half the amount in a drink. That is the only way. He would throw up if I gave him Calpol / Nurofen the usual spoon/syringe method.

appropriatelytrained · 15/02/2012 17:48

My son used to throw everything straight back up. It is very stressful.

Are the antibiotics very nasty to taste? Some of them are foul and it is very hard to hide the taste. I like the illuminous yellow stuff personally!

You can ask to your GP to try a different type if it is the taste. You can also ask them for general help or advice on this. I think it is quite commonly encountered.

We used to take a tiny bit of medicine and mix it in a drink DS liked or a bit of ice-cream and just feed it a bit at a time, leaving a little time between the tiny spoonfuls. It did the trick but I do think that some antibiotics are very hard to hide no matter what you try!

SallyBear · 15/02/2012 18:09

I meant to add about the ice cream trick! My DS1 hates meds too, but he is older and generally accepts it. Apart from Xmas 2010 when he wouldn't take anti-bs. Someone suggested a spoon of ice cream first to numb the taste buds and the meds went down a treat! Can't do that with DS3 as he won't be spoonfed. Sigh.

Original poster

mishymashy · 15/02/2012 20:22

Thankyou all

We tried the egg cup but he wasnt having any of it, then tried the lolly which he ate beautifully but still refused the meds after, then a bit of icecream with it hidden on the spoon.

We have failed miserably on all counts!

He has ASD traits, the food one being the daily battle. The irony being that he prefers yellow foods (cheese) which is why he was given amoxycillin

Will try again tomorrow, i dont think my nerves can take anymore tonight.

Thanks again

OP posts:

SallyBear · 15/02/2012 20:26

Go back and ask for amoxycillin capsules, and sprinkle them by hiding in a drink.

jalapeno · 15/02/2012 22:22

I'm not sure how old they lose this reflex but it's worth a try. We were taught this trick by a nurse on a childrens ward...give them a squirt of the meds from a syringe and blow on their face very firmly (as if blowing out a birthday cake candle but in a short, sharp way) whilst it is still in their mouth , it causes them to swallow involuntarily. It can be done a few times with smaller squirts if that helps.

Hope you find something that works!

Jerbil · 15/02/2012 22:31

Though DS2 was a lot younger when we did this, a nurse gave me a trick. You may have to swaddle in a blanket if you're on your own. Get a metal spoon with the medicine on when you manage to get medicine in, (again may need help) depress the tongue with the spoon. This disables the ability of pushing the medicine round the mouth and keep the spoon there until they swallow. sounds awfully cruel, but actually it worked a treat for us, and if they're using it on a kids ward...

happydayyay · 15/02/2012 22:35

Only thing can add is our dd was in hospital with tonsillitis at weekend and they saw how hard it was to get antibiotics down her and said the one they had given her could be given as a 2.5 dose. I was so pleased as smaller amount is easier I don't mean give half the dose the pharmacy make it up different . May be worth asking

Summer123 · 15/02/2012 23:13

Hi Mishymashy,
why don't you ask for the ng tube again? It'll mean the meds get down, reduce the anxiety and give you some breathing space to plan better for when the situation arises again. Perhaps in the future the meds could be given via a different route eg injection?
good luck, we're rooting for you!

Walkinginwonderland · 16/02/2012 04:46

Will he eat jelly ? If so you could make jelly cubes in an ice cube tray, with a dose in each one.

manfrommars · 17/02/2012 12:57

We've used strawberry or chocolate nesquik powder to mask flavours in the past.....

jardy · 18/02/2012 21:36

I know that this isn`t very specific to your enquiry but try googling fledglings as they have so much in their catalogue that might help.

Sassyfrassy · 18/02/2012 22:07

My dd projectile vomits all oral medication. We now make it into ice lollies which works very well for us. Just mix with fairly strong juice and freeze.

Original poster

mishymashy · 19/02/2012 09:00

Thanks all for the suggestions.

We are going to try the lolly making today.

I'm not even going to say how much medicine we have wasted by it being spat back out at us! I am literally using my fingers to try and scoop it back in when he spits it out. Many a row has been had by me and DH whilst covered in sticky meds and a screaming 3 year old

We even tried food colouring to see if him picking a colour would help. All that meant was that i was plastered in bright blue amoxycillin instead of pale yellow

I will not be doing that again!

We have to pick another bottle of meds up tomorrow as his glands are still so big so another joyful week awaits!

OP posts:

jalapeno · 19/02/2012 20:15

Please do try the short sharp blow to the face to make them swallow, my DS was very resistant with his meds once and we held him on my lap, tipped the meds in with spoon or squirted in with syringe and then a quick blow and it is swallowed. Assuming they aren't sick afterwards that is!

Good luck

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