My 2 1/2 yr old wont take meds and makes himself throw up?

Question

He makes himself gag if he sees it, and throws up everywhere before even tasting it. I use medicine syringes and shoot it down, doesnt work, comes right back up. I have hidden it in food and mixed it in drinks, he wont touch it. Any tricks for getting the liquid medicine down?

Answer 1

I had the same problem with both of my children now 7 and 8. even if i got the meds in them within minutes it was right back up. I told the doc time and time again and they kept up with the liquid meds. After they finally saw it for themselves they told me what to do...instead of liquid tylenol for fevers or advil...go to the pharmacy and get Acetaminophen suppositories ( a link is enclosed for correct dosage) they come in a brand called feverall or if you ask the pharmacist for Acetaminophen suppositories you will get a generic brand for half the money and double the suppositories. We also went to chewable medication such as antibiotics. Allergy meds come in fastmelts and dissolveable tounge strips (mine dont like the strips though). Capsules can be put in pudding or applesauce or even sprinkled into their dinner.
my youngest took prilosec and we told him it was spinkles he had no problems. both of my children have gag reflexes that prevented them from taking most thicker liquids even to this day. Although by doing these alternative methods both my children learned to take pills by the age of 4. Next time you go to your family doc or the ER ask them for alternatives other than liquids. I have found that they are the same dosage most of the time just in different forms. Doctors usually dont have a problem with it. You just need to make them aware of it before hand and tell them your child has a gag reflex or works theirself up so much and it doesnt stay down.
Let me tell you though... the tylenol suppositories are a godsend.

Answer 2

My 2 1/2 year old does this too. We've found many over the counter meds come in fast disolving strips. She doesn't gag because they melt so fast. For prescription meds, using a syringe but in very small amounts, alternating with a favorite food or drink seems to work. Sometimes it might take me five minutes to get a medicine into her. Above all, don't lose your cool. If he can tell it's getting to you he'll keep doing it. Just be firm and patient, they do outgrow it!

Answer 3

Is it a textural issue? Maybe it's too thick and makes him gag? Also, temperature - make sure you give it to him at the temperature he drinks other things. Maybe give him some more control. Set a timer for 10 minutes and put the medicine where he can take it. Tell him if he doesn't take it himself by the time the timer goes off, you'll use the syringe. Having control over when and how to take it might reduce that hyper-sensitivity.

Answer 4

U try soda pop in a juicer cup or tell the child he can have a popcicle after he takes the meds.
Or if all fails tell him to take the meds or the TV goes off.
Or turn the TV off and say u got to take your medicine before i turn the TV back on. Hopefully the child will agree, give the child some drink behind the meds so he wont spit up.

Answer 5

If its over the counter, get a different flavor. Put it in something thats a similar flavor and very sweet, even something cold. Strawberry liquid tylenol in a small strawberry milkshake, (i mean really small) wont be as noticeable.

Cold syrups you cant disguise, try the disolving tablets instead.

you can try getting his favorite treat, and not letting him have it until RIGHT after he takes the medicine, and tell him he cant have it if he throws up the medicine.

At some point you'll have to deal with the behavior if you cant fool him. if it were me, i'd put him on time out or spank his butt for doing that kind of thing. Its no different than him throwing a toy across the room after you've told him ten times not to.

Answer 6

There's really only one trick that works. Every time he makes himself gag, punish him. My son went through the same phase. It took me punishing him every time I saw him do it to make him stop. Another trick that might work is to explain to him that if he doesn't take the meds, it will mean a trip to the hospital where they will stick him with needles in his rearend. This typically convinces the kid that it's a good idea to just take the meds and be done with it.

Answer 7

Almost every medication is available as an injection. I have an autistic nephew who has to get everything that way. I'd do that.

When my daughter fought antibiotics tooth and nail (at 9 months)we decided to go with the injection. She cried about the same for each injection as she had for each dose of the oral stuff and there were only 3 injections versus 20 oral doses.

Answer 8

Consult your local Pharmacist.They have flavorings that can make any liquid medication very palatable even over the counter ones,give it a try.It is usually very cheap.Walmart is about $2 to flavor the entire bottle of medication.We haven't had a parent complain yet that it didn't work.

Answer 9

He might be the type of kid who will need shots for all medicines or a I.V. He will need to have the tylenol rectally.When he gets a few years older he will take the medicines better.If he is on a percription medicine then you need to call his doc so he/she can arrange other ways of giving him medicine.

Answer 10

A co-worker sugessted to me to offer candy as a reward for taking medicine and my daughter took any medicine after that. I would stock up on suckers and sugar-free candy just for that reason. I was reluctant as first but it worked like a charm.