How do I get DD to take medicine? Nevermind- looked up Tamiflu & decided not to give it to her

My husband just got over the flu & now DD (3 & 1/2) has a 102 fever. The pediatrician said it looks like the start of the flu & he prescribed Tamiflu.
I hate giving her anything but I would really hate it if she is sick for a long time.
She tasted it & almost gagged & refuses to take it.
The Pharmacy added grape flavor but it's still not any better.
Any other tricks to get her to take it?
I don't know if I should just give up or force her to take it.
What would you do?

Message edited 2/5/2015 6:46:49 PM.

Re: How do I get DD to take medicine?

My 3 yr old isn't that bad with meds, but when the Doc prescribed Tamiflu for him he also gagged. He kept yelling it's disgusting. I tried everything to get him to take it. Hiding it in his drink, apple sauce, etc. He kept tasting it and refused.
Finally was able to get two doses in him the first day.
Well, that night he got up in the middle of the night and starting talking to something outside his window (which was closed by the way). He was in a weird daze and said he saw a race car driver and someone playing the drums. I went and read that hallucinations is a side effect in kids sometimes. Not saying this could happen to your DD. I heard other people have no issues. Just letting you know. Anyway, I decided to stop giving to him since they said it really only lessons the flu by a day or so anyway.
Hopefully you can get her to take it and it works better for her. Now I have an expensive bottle of Tamiflu in the fridge.

How do I get DD to take medicine?

I have read that the side effects are just not worth the amount of time it will lessen the symptoms. I would not give it DC.

I would give her Elderberry a few times a day. DS had the flu (actually we all got it) a few days before Christmas. He was the only one to bounce back from it within 3 days. In other words, the rest of us who don't take Elderberry regularly were miserable throughout the entire holiday. I know take it daily as does DD.

How do I get DD to take medicine?

My friends ped refused to give her daughter tamiflu bc he said it is dangerous in chikdren and can cause hallucinations. Dd and I got the flu earlier this year. Confirmed flu A. We took elderberry every few hours. We only had fevers for less than 48 hours and on the third day just needed extra rest. 4th day were were good but we stayed home the full 5-7 days to not expose anyone else.

I would stick with elderberry. The family member that infected us didn't use and was sick for 5 full days in bed.

Re: How do I get DD to take medicine?

Posted by EricaAlt

My 3 yr old isn't that bad with meds, but when the Doc prescribed Tamiflu for him he also gagged. He kept yelling it's disgusting. I tried everything to get him to take it. Hiding it in his drink, apple sauce, etc. He kept tasting it and refused.
Finally was able to get two doses in him the first day.
Well, that night he got up in the middle of the night and starting talking to something outside his window (which was closed by the way). He was in a weird daze and said he saw a race car driver and someone playing the drums. I went and read that hallucinations is a side effect in kids sometimes. Not saying this could happen to your DD. I heard other people have no issues. Just letting you know. Anyway, I decided to stop giving to him since they said it really only lessons the flu by a day or so anyway.
Hopefully you can get her to take it and it works better for her. Now I have an expensive bottle of Tamiflu in the fridge.

Re: How do I get DD to take medicine?

Posted by Leb

Posted by EricaAlt

My 3 yr old isn't that bad with meds, but when the Doc prescribed Tamiflu for him he also gagged. He kept yelling it's disgusting. I tried everything to get him to take it. Hiding it in his drink, apple sauce, etc. He kept tasting it and refused.
Finally was able to get two doses in him the first day.
Well, that night he got up in the middle of the night and starting talking to something outside his window (which was closed by the way). He was in a weird daze and said he saw a race car driver and someone playing the drums. I went and read that hallucinations is a side effect in kids sometimes. Not saying this could happen to your DD. I heard other people have no issues. Just letting you know. Anyway, I decided to stop giving to him since they said it really only lessons the flu by a day or so anyway.
Hopefully you can get her to take it and it works better for her. Now I have an expensive bottle of Tamiflu in the fridge.

Omg I didn't even read any other posts before I posted! That's so crazy that happened to him. My ped was going to offer to my dd and my doc tried to get me to take it but I denied both bc my friend had just told me what her doctor said.

I did some research quick in my flu stupor and apparently tamiflu REFUSES to release their "studies" on the success rate bc they claim it works well so there is no reason to release their studies. It's super shady.

Also side note to all who use elderberry. We've used all winter however I just recently made my own! It was soooo easy and now I have a huge vat of it. All you do is boil the elderberries w fresh ginger clove and cinnamon. Strain out the berries and add honey. I have the receipe if anyone is interested.

How do I get DD to take medicine?

Depends on the severity of my child's suffering.
AJ & I had H1N1 and really I'd have forced her to take it at one point. She as walking death. That said, they didn't give it to us. So we pushed through. I think all in we were 'down' 3 days tops.

Each reacts to the flu differently as well as the meds. So its a judgment call. I'd give and only stop if there were reactions.

I am a believer of building immunities so we just drank fluids, rested and watched her like a hawk. She was 3 ?

Good Luck

eta: we don't get the flu shot. One of the ped there said we probably won't ever need it. We can still get sick of course, just like those with the shot, we just have natural antibodies and endurance to withstand it. Our bodies have withstood high fevers and an all out assault. As long as we stay healthy the flu poses not real threat other than inconvenience. Which he said the cold is a month long suffering and misery, usually a flu is more severe but less in time.

Message edited 2/5/2015 5:20:09 PM.

Re: How do I get DD to take medicine? Nevermind- looked up Tamiflu & decided not to give it to her

Thank you for the responses.
I panicked at the thought of the flu & I didn't even look into Tamiflu until I saw your comments.
I know there are always mixed opinions but most of them mentioned the same thing as some of you did, saying the side effects on children are worse then the benefits.
I guess my little girl is choosing the holistic route

Re: How do I get DD to take medicine? Nevermind- looked up Tamiflu & decided not to give it to her

Leb--can you post recipe??

Re: How do I get DD to take medicine? Nevermind- looked up Tamiflu & decided not to give it to her

Posted by Leb

Posted by EricaAlt

My 3 yr old isn't that bad with meds, but when the Doc prescribed Tamiflu for him he also gagged. He kept yelling it's disgusting. I tried everything to get him to take it. Hiding it in his drink, apple sauce, etc. He kept tasting it and refused.
Finally was able to get two doses in him the first day.
Well, that night he got up in the middle of the night and starting talking to something outside his window (which was closed by the way). He was in a weird daze and said he saw a race car driver and someone playing the drums. I went and read that hallucinations is a side effect in kids sometimes. Not saying this could happen to your DD. I heard other people have no issues. Just letting you know. Anyway, I decided to stop giving to him since they said it really only lessons the flu by a day or so anyway.
Hopefully you can get her to take it and it works better for her. Now I have an expensive bottle of Tamiflu in the fridge.

Omg I didn't even read any other posts before I posted! That's so crazy that happened to him. My ped was going to offer to my dd and my doc tried to get me to take it but I denied both bc my friend had just told me what her doctor said.

I did some research quick in my flu stupor and apparently tamiflu REFUSES to release their "studies" on the success rate bc they claim it works well so there is no reason to release their studies. It's super shady.

Also side note to all who use elderberry. We've used all winter however I just recently made my own! It was soooo easy and now I have a huge vat of it. All you do is boil the elderberries w fresh ginger clove and cinnamon. Strain out the berries and add honey. I have the receipe if anyone is interested.