How do I get a 5 year old to learn to swallow or what can I put with crushed medicines to make it taste better

Question

Help my 5 year old is taking a medicine he has to swallow (we tried that didnt work) or it has to be crushed (that was bad as well) I mixed it with sugar and he about vomited from the taste of the medicine and he is supposed to get it twice a day forever well for awhile atleast. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could mix it with or how to teach him how to swallow the pills without chocking?

Thanks!

mom to 5 year old brain aneurysm survivor who needs meds to help ease the migraines he suffers from

Answer 1

You can take the prescription to a compounding pharmacy.  They can make it into syrups or lollipops of any flavor.  Allow him to pick it.  They may even let him taste the different flavors so he will know he likes it.

Answer 2

Mothers in my pediatric practice used the peanut butter, jelly and yogurt tricks mentioned by previous respondents.

Very few five year olds can swallow pills. You could practice on Tic Tacs.

But I am concerned about headaches a year after surgery. Have the doctors ruled out other causes like hydrocephalus, etc?

Answer 3

I usually grind up pills and mix the with a few tablespoons of applesauce, yogurt, or pudding.  This works wonderfully and I can't taste the medicine at all.

Answer 4

Try a spoonful of jelly or peanut butter. Maybe honey. Or mix it on a drink he likes, not sure how strong the medicine tastes but put it in something he likes that has a strong flavor.

Answer 5

Crush the pills to nearly a powder, and put in Danon yogurt mixed with applesauce. Works everytime- the applesauce has a rougher texture and the kids never notice the pills. No sugar needed either. If he needs more encouragement, mash up a ripe banana and put that in the mix. I promise you this works!

Answer 6

Hi,  I feel for you.  It really hurts when you see the kids fighting so hard to beat the big things and getting worn away by the daily ones.  

Run this by your pharmacist first because some medicinces can be less effective when mixed, but I had really good results with crushing and mixing with applesauce or pudding.  If it's bitter medicine chocolate pudding works really well because chocolate is more of a bitter taste anyway.

If he is able to handle peanut butter, chop it into smaller pieces and stick it in the middle of a pb sandwhich.  The pb is enough to start the swallowing reaction too.

Another parent recommended "practicing" swallowing pills by starting with mini m&m's, then moving up to regular ones.

I've had some luck too with repeatedly asking pharmacists and doctors if there's another med that could work.  Luckily in our case an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  I'm guessing with migraines from an aneurysm your situation is a ton different.

Good luck and good health!

Answer 7

You should talk to your pharmacist.  There are many medicines that can be flavored so that children will take them.

Answer 8

My heart goes out to your son. I get migraines myself and I feel so bad for kids who get them.

First off have you asked your dr if the meds come in liquid form?

Are the pills so big they get stuck in the throat? I am 32 yet I can't swallow big pills. The get stuck in my throat on the way down. I have a small esophagus (spell?). My dr. gave me new migraine pills and like most pills they are way to big for me. Even when cut in half I can't get them down. So sadly I suffer till my next visit.

Now for suggestions -

1. I remember my mom hiding my pills in ice cream. She'd give me a large scoop of icecream and I would swallow the whole spoon full. I'd taste ice cream and not the pill. This may work if it is crushed up.

2. My mom would also hide it with a piece of cheese wrapped around it. It would be small enough to swallow. (It worked. I don't see how but it did for me. lol)

3. Have him try practicing with with the candy Tic Tac's. These are shaped like pills. First off you need to make sure your son understand the difference between candy & pills. We used this with my daughter when she first tried pills at age 7. She would learn how to swallow the tic tac & then the pill. She caught on quickly.

4. While my daughter was learning my oldest child suggested she lift up her tongue while she swallowed. This helped her also too.

Also you may want to talk to your child's dr. the one treating him for migraines and also his reg. dr. They may have more suggestions.

hope this helps.