Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

Cai has a serious staph infection. We were trying to avoid oral antibiotics because he is so aversive to the texture and taste he vomits after swallowing it. We are using a cream, which was helping a little, but not enough. So we had to start him on oral anti biotics.

I had it flavored bubblegum flavor, but he still puts up a fight swallowing it, and then a minute later some of it gets vomited up.

First: is it possible at swallowing he is getting enough in his system even if he vomits it up a minute later? I don't know what to do when he does this. I don't want to overdose him, but I can not take the chance that he isn't getting this antibiotic in him. It has already done an amazing job after we had a successful day of taking it with no vomiting. At this point, after he vomits I don't give him anymore.

Our ped says I can mix it in anything. Cai won't eat anything chocolate. I was thinking of mixing it with strawberry quick milk because he will do back flips for that stuff. Will that mask the taste enough? Anyone have any other tricks for getting medicine into heir kid? Cai is very picky on taste and texture, and his gag reflex is really sensitive.

I am at my wit's end. This staph infection has really been awful.

Message edited 8/25/2012 6:56:57 PM.

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

We have the same problem here. The only medication DS would take was Omnicef and he ended up being allergic to it.. I have tried EVERYTHING with him. So far Grape juice has been the only thing that masked medication. I also got it flavored to grape.. He loves grape everything. See if it is possible to get the antibiotic in injection form.. That is our next option with DS..

Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

With DD, we always put it in her yogurt...

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

Can you get chewables? This helped immensely! We made an M&M sandwich (antibiotic in the middle and m&m on either side) - it was the ONLY thing that worked - we literally went through THREE prescriptions trying to get him to take the meds!

Good luck

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

i used to put it in DS yogurt when he needed it for ear infections.

the pharmacy happened to use orange flavoring which is awful. I think DS could taste some of it in there, but he didnt vomit or fight it.

does he eat yogurt or smoothies?

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

have you tried smaller doses?

the pharmacist suggested breaking it up for DS when he had to take his. He had 7ml twice a day.
she suggested giving him maybe a third of the dose at a time, waiting a bit and giving him the rest.

i also had his favorite watered down juice ready each time to "wash it down"

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

I will ask about smaller doses....

I am not sure if he would tolerate chewable.... Getting him to swallow liquid is hard enough. I am afraid he would carry on so much he might choke.....

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

DS is not good about taking meds either. He used to vomit it back up. Now, we put it in Koolaid and we never say its medicine. It's his sick drink that makes him feel better. We never give him koolaid any other time and we never watch him mix it. We also have him earn a sticker for every time he takes his sick drink and at the end we go and get a toy if he does well.

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

I would try it in a small amount of strawberry milk. its worth a shot!

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

Put it in a drink, but make sure it's an amount that he will drink in 1 sitting. Quick sounds good, or sunny D, even soda.... Something with a strong taste. Try it yourself, kwim? If you can't taste it, he won't.

It depends what meds he's on too. Some stuff is just gross, they have to end up taking it through IV or shots in the leg.

L had cellulitis when he was little. It's was horrible. If he keeps throwing up the meds you have to go to the ER. That's what happened to us.

Is he running a fever?

Re: Need help with yucky medicine (a little gross)

My DD has the same problem. She hates taking medicine and always pukes.

What I do is put it in a dropper and then put it UNDER her tongue so she cant taste it. I make sure she has a chaser of whatever drink she loves...for orange juice or soda works well. I also make her hold her nose so she cant taste (works like a charm). Once its under her tongue (I put a little) she swigs a drink with a straw and washes it down.

its the only way I can get any antibiotic in her. She is good with Ibuprofen but I have to give her tylenol chewables because she hates tylenol too.

Give this a try it might work.

I wouldnt put it in a drink because if he doesnt drink the whole thing he isnt getting the full dose.

Message edited 8/26/2012 6:28:32 PM.