How do it get DS (16) to take antibiotic tablets

[WESM]

DS is 16. He has a in growing toenail and we went to the local minor injuries and the nurse gave him antibiotics. She gave him tables (capsules) as he is 16, and I thought this would be a good chance to get him to take them instead of liquids. We had tried before, but he isn't very happy about swallowing things.

Well, it has been a nightmare. I've tried fizzy drinks, water, squash, a banana, fruit smoothie, and all sorts and he says he can't swallow them.

Any other ideas on how to do it?

When I worked in children's ward we used to make mini jam sandwiches to help swallowing tablets

I work with teens and a frustratingly large number of them inexplicably have a problem taking tablets

My dd is the same and always has been. What a fucking song and dance she makes

But, 'tis common I am afraid. Just one of those teenage foibles with the less attention given to it the better, IMO

Yes really?????!!!!!!!

Lots of things in life are a struggle, but the sooner you realise you have to get on with it the better.

Fuck would I be putting tablets in jam for a 16 year old.

Take it or stay in pain - your choice

Lots of things in life are a struggle, but the sooner you realise you have to get on with it the better.

Oh silly me.

Drink through a straw when swallowing- stops you from tipping your head back and closing the back of the throat.

This sounds crazy but works.

Get him to take a big mouthful of water, keep it in his mouth and then pop the pill in (put head back and only open lips tiny bit) then swallow the water.

This also works if you have a med with a horrible taste - you can't taste it.

I developed an aversion to taking tablets when I had to take chemo tablets every day. They were huge and tasted funny and made me very sick. But obviously I had to take them.

I sternly said to myself, out loud, "stop being such a baby" and did the nose pinching that I mentioned above. It was still unpleasant and I did that dramatic "bleurgh" thing afterwards, but it was all over in less than a minute rather than being a long drawn out palaver.

Now I take lots of tablets every day, sometimes 30+, with no trouble.

It really depends on personality though. I find that once I tell myself I have no choice about something I stop making a fuss and just get on with it. I try not to indulge my feelings too much. But I'm sure the "tough love" thing doesn't work for everyone.

I used to struggle with tablets but I think there comes a point when it becomes unacceptable to ask for liquid antibiotics and you tell yourself you have to do it.

I find it a lot easier with a fizzy drink.

I think a lot of adults struggle with tablets but I wonder if it's increasing due to most children's medicines being in liquid form now. I remember being given children's aspirin tablets aged about 5, but I know a lot of 8, 9, 10 year olds who expect liquid calpol. I am pretty sure that wasn't an option at 5 in the 70s.

I couldn't take tablets at 16 either...and then I went on the pill and had to find a way.

I take a big mouthful of drink, pop the tablet in through a "cat's bum" hole, tip head forward for a capsule and backwards for a tablet, then swallow, and follow it up immediately with another mouthful of drink.

These days I can do about 10 pills in one go, which came in handy a few years ago when I was on 43 tablets a day...

The best 'trick' I can suggest is to get him to take it with a spoonful of yogurt/porridge or something like, don't crush them, most are enterically (sp?!) coated to stop them being absorbed too quickly xx

I second requesting liquid medication... he can do that!

Get some hydrogen peroxide and dilute with water as hot as can bare and stick hustle in it. Will get under nail and start fizzing which is the bacteria oxidising.

Not helpful in swallowing the tablets but will attack it from a different angle just in case you don't get the antibiotics down him.

Tell him my 10 year old dd can swallow tablets!

I'm 52 and struggle with tablets my throat seems to clamp shut, honestly, I get in my own nerves with it !

Drinking through a straw helps , as does wiggling my toes .

Tell him my 10 year old dd can swallow tablets!

So could my ds at that age but wouldn't presume everyone is the same.

He's 16. Go get him the vile liquid via a GP. Then let him choose.

Take a drink, and with the water still in your mouth tip your head right back. Drop the pill so it goes right to the back of the throat in the puddle of water, and swallow straight away. Because your head is back, it's impossible to not swallow the pill as you swallow the water, and you shouldn't even feel it.

It's the only way I can take them.

I'm afraid I'm going to disagree with a lot of you. Apparently putting the capsule further back on the tongue is more likely to make it stick and not go down. You should put it on the front end of the tongue then take a swig of water and the tongue will naturally funnel them down together

Yes, I found similar. Really difficult to swallow if I put it far back on my tongue. Much easier further forward with big swash of water

I just can't do it putting it on my tongue. I know the physics means it should be easier, but I start retching if I do pill then water.

I can do water, head back, pill super casual

I hate tablets. I've had to build up gradually but will break them in half our into quarters even to help. Unfortunately you can't do that with capsules.

Fruit juice or fizzy drinks help. I really can't do it with plain water. I do ask for the liquid form sometimes but I've improved after multiple bouts of mastitis!

Ds could swallow pills at 11 but only because he was in A&E and was asked by a nurse if he could swallow a tablet and he said yes as he wanted to look grown up. He would never have done it for me.

Thanks all!

I know it sounds really stupid a 16 yo not taking tablets. His dad also struggles and he is 46 and takes around 10-15 tablets a day!

I wonder if DS2 had picked up on this? His younger and older brothers take them no problems at all.

Will try tick tacks and a drinks bottle. I don't want to make a big thing out of it, but he can't take calopl for the rest of his life should have had Disprin like I did as a child - I was desperate for tablets