# Medicating Children...there has to be an easier way! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 20, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965 "2000-01-20T22:43:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/1 "2000-01-20T22:43:00Z")
I’m not going to live through this. I just know it. \

[\](http://fathom.org/opalcat/diary/nickymeds2.gif) * * * – Teeming Millions: [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions) “Meat flaps, yellow!” - DrainBead, naked co-ed Twister chat O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---

**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2000, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/2 "2000-01-20T22:58:00Z")
I feel for you, Opal. My daughter is pretty good about it now (she’s 2 1/2), but when she was smaller we resorted to spiking her bottle with it. You might ask your pharmacist if the medication can be prepared with a different flavoring. They don’t advertise it, but sometimes there is a selection. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2000, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/3 "2000-01-20T23:13:00Z")
I know exactly what you’re going through. I thought I was the only one that had the child from hell, when it came to giving medication. I just know some day it’s going to come back to haunt me. I can see it now; she’s going to have a repressed memory of me and the husband holding her down on the floor while we force a vile substance down her throat. * * * I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Minxsmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2000, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/4 "2000-01-20T23:24:00Z")
My Mom used to bribe my sister and I with chocolate. She’d have the chocolate at the ready (usually a Hershey Kiss or something similar) tell me to hold my nose, swallow the medicine fast, then eat the chocolate. When my sister was in “one of her moods”, my Mom used to spike her juice when she wasn’t looking. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2000, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/5 "2000-01-20T23:30:00Z")
Makes me glad I medicate animals. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/6 "2000-01-20T23:57:00Z")
That’s why I always kept a 60cc syringe with a 4" spinal needle on it at home. Just tell 'em, you can either drink it or get it through **THIS**! Boowahahaha! Then they decided it was much simpler to **sit** down, **take** their medicine and **run away**. 😉 Oh yeah, they’re also great for injecting watermelons with vodka and turkeys with seasoning. * * * “It is now proved beyond doubt that smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics.” ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/7 "2000-01-21T00:08:00Z")
My son takes meds in the morning and at night and I finally gave up trying to force him to take them and just put them in something he likes. His have to be chewed so i put them in yogurt, slide it into a banana or on occasion in a wagon wheel. Its worked out perfectly and we are both much happier that I dont have to sit on him anymore. * * * We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/8 "2000-01-21T00:30:00Z")
I have tried: reason bribery hiding the medicine in foods or drinks nose holding liquid medications (with spoons, syringes, and eyedroppers) chewable medications powdered medications Today I tried to hide a pleasantly flavored one in a generous scoop of chocolate ice cream. He wouldn’t eat it. He figured out that it was spiked, somehow, and one taste and he wouldn’t go near it. Tomorrow I’m going to call the doctor and see if I can put them up his butt instead. I swear it would be easier. * * * – Teeming Millions: [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions) “Meat flaps, yellow!” - DrainBead, naked co-ed Twister chat O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/9 "2000-01-21T00:32:00Z")
(the above applies to all medications he’s ever had) * * * – Teeming Millions: [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions) “Meat flaps, yellow!” - DrainBead, naked co-ed Twister chat O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![kellibelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@kellibelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellibelli)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/10 "2000-01-21T01:28:00Z")
Give him ONE suppository…and maybe he wont mind taking it by mouth. OTOH…could you talk him into swallowing pills? Ted has taken pills instead of liquid since he was 2 or so…the liquid made him insane. If you can get him to swallow a pill…_sigh_ life gets easier. ---
**Author:** ![Shadowfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shadowfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadowfox)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/11 "2000-01-21T01:57:00Z")
I like the way Democritus does it…heehee ## Seriously, my three-year-old son is the same way. He fights back like his life depends on it. Last month when he had a sinus infection and we had to give him liquid amoxicillin, he bit me a couple of times and spit it all over me at least a couple of times too. I’m dreading the next time he gets sick, he’s a strong little bugger. Shadowfox “We are what we pretend to be.” - Kurt Vonnegut ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/12 "2000-01-21T02:28:00Z")
What with my sons recurrent ear infections, strep throats, and various other bugs, I am so glad that he’s gotten to the point that he’ll take pills. Trying to get him to take lousy tasting medicine was a nightmare. (And, I can understand. I tasted one of his prescription liquids, and it was horrid.) The pediatrician told me not to try and hide it in a bottle of juice when he was little since they don’t always drink it all. When I asked what the alternatives were, he didn’t offer any usable suggestions. At least my son liked the taste of amoxicillin (bubble gum). I can’t imagine what the battles would have been like if he didn’t. Good luck, Opal. ---
**Author:** ![Minxsmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/13 "2000-01-21T03:48:00Z")
I took a poll of people I know with kids - they all came up with stuff you’ve already tried. So I poked around the internet. The few sites I did find all said that you should reason with the child and explain to them why the medicine is necessary. Keep reasoning with them until they understand and don’t get frustrated or upset. [sarcasm]Gee, Opal, that sounds like good advice. Why are you making this so hard on yourself when all you need to do is reason with him?[/sarcasm] Ferchristsake, do the people who write these things even know any children? Good luck, I hope it gets easier. ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/14 "2000-01-21T03:53:00Z")
My daughter is allergic to penicillin/augmentin and she won’t take ceftin. A few doctors insist we try ceftin, but she never will take it. There are maybe two other choices. She doesn’t get sick much, and has less allergy than my son. So…no solution, really.Tell them they have to get shots if they won’t take the medicine! ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/15 "2000-01-21T04:08:00Z")
Bowen had to take some nasty, gritty, minty, chalky stuff when he had impetigo…he hated it, of course, and I hated having to give it to him. One of us would have to hold him down, open his mouth and pin his arms and legs while the other one got the meds into his mouth. He spat it all over the place. We tried again, this time completing the job by closing his mouth and PLUGGING HIS NOSE so he’d have to swallow. I felt so awful…he’d swallow and commence crying and screaming, looking at us with his big sad eyes like we were the worst parents on earth and how could we be so MEAN?? I finally said “to hell with this”, and took care of it the old fashioned way. Scrubbed him up four or five times a day with hot water and anti-bacterial soap (so a-b isn’t old fashioned, but it’s a better alternative than LYE, anyway) and a bath every morning and every night. Fortunately, he loves baths and washing his face and hands…he loves to get wet. Funny thing is, the impetigo cleared up faster that way. It was gone within a week, whereas the meds were supposed to be taken for three weeks. Go figure. * * * “…being normal is not necessarily a virtue. It rather denotes a lack of courage.” ---
**Author:** ![lvick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d07c76/32.png) [@lvick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lvick)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/16 "2000-01-21T05:10:00Z")
The meds were supposed to be taken for 3 weeks to insure that all the bacteria were dead, the skin should have cleared sooner. As a pediatric nurse, I have plenty of experience with this problem, and really can’t offer much more than what’s been said. I think I can say that I’ve only really been beat once. A few kids are really tough. We usually recommend not putting it in their favorite whatever as sometimes it ruins the food for them. If you do put it in something make it a small amount rather than a full portion, more likely to get in all down that way. also, and this only works for a few, popsicles to numb the mouth can work well, I think you have to try that one before the whole tug of war thing is established, Good luck Opal, Larry ---
**Author:** ![Sentinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sentinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sentinel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/17 "2000-01-21T05:56:00Z")
**Oh MAN!** There is one solution, but you might not like it. Ask the doctor if he can give the medication in a shot, then warn your kid that he has two choices – A: have the medicine \* PAINFULLY\* injected into his/her butt with a BIG NEEDLE that will HURT A LOT or B: take it by mouth mixed with apple sauce which will taste yucky, but won’t hurt at all. I know when I was a kid and faced with battling my folks over oral medication, they gave me those choices and I hated shots. I took the oral medication. Our doctor, knowing my tendency to resist medication, was more than willing to jab my butt with a syringe of sterile water as an object lesson. It never came to that, because I’d had PLENTY of shots over the normal course of catching normal kid diseases. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/18 "2000-01-21T06:03:00Z")
Actually I asked if they could give the medication as a shot… it would be easier and in the end, less traumatic for the kid. THey said no. * * * – Teeming Millions: [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions) “Meat flaps, yellow!” - DrainBead, naked co-ed Twister chat O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![Nu\_Vo\_Da\_Da](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/97f17d/32.png) [@Nu\_Vo\_Da\_Da](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nu_Vo_Da_Da)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/19 "2000-01-21T06:06:00Z")
“reason bribery hiding the medicine in foods or drinks nose holding liquid medications (with spoons, syringes, and eyedroppers) chewable medications powdered medications” my goodness opal, you’re nice. wanna know what my parents did? they sat me down and made me take the medicine in whatever form they had it. (as i recall it was generally liquid. amoxicillin was the worst(well, second worst, the malaria meds were worse, but they at least were in pill form so you had a chance of not tasting it)…and whats this stuff about bubble gum anyway? from what i remember amoxocillin had nothing in common with bubble gum(of course living in africa, flavored medications weren’t the norm at the time)) Of course if you use the method they did you’ll probaby be scraping the stuff off the ceilings(i’m pretty sure my parents were) but hell, it builds character, right? ---
**Author:** ![Lemmon2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lemmon2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemmon2000)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2000, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965/20 "2000-01-21T13:14:00Z")
I asked the doctor if they could give my son a shot instead of the oral meds too. They looked at me like I was an idiot for not being able to get my son to take the medicine. During the examination my son, who was 3 at the time, spit on the doc and called him stupid. I know they thought I had no control over my kid. Actually he is a very well behaved child except when it comes to doctors and taking medecine. Now that he is 4 reasoning with him has helped and he actually takes his meds without too much fuss. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicating-children-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way/12965.md?page=2)