I can't get my 4 year old to swallow his medicine. Do other parents have any tips?

Question

I can't get my 4 year old to swallow his medicine. Do other parents have any tips?
I can get it down but he vomits it back up. It is for his Asthma (Redipred). The doctor told me some kids just have a really good vomit reflex and to just keep giving it to him again every time he spits it up. He gets so upset and stressed I am starting to wonder if I may be doing more harm than good. All that screaming and heavey breathing sometimes triggers an attack. Any help you can give would be great?
I posted this before but didnt get many answers. Please dont report I am just trying a different catagory in the hope of more answers!!!!!!

Answer 1

If your son takes a liquid medication perhaps trying to have it flavored at the pharmacy. I think it costs about $4 or something on that order. Your son could choose from quite a few flavors. They say it doesn't take the complete yuckies away but does take that edge off. You could also try giving just a small amount until he swallows. Try giving the medication in a syringe insted of a spoon or cup. You could also try mixing it in some of his favorite drink...only a small amount until he gets it down.
If this medication is a pill, you could crush it and put it in something smooth or pureed form. My daughter took hers in icecream...Just a small amount of course, but her incentive was to get just a little more ice cream after she finished the medication. Pudding was also a good one. Remember to try to stay positive and calm, this will help him remain calmer too. Tell him what a big boy he is after he gets some medicine down and how happy and proud you are of him.
Also, maybe he could get a popsicle or something thats a small treat for him after doing a great job.
Or you could even try a sticker chart...he could get a sticker everytime he takes his medicine and at the end of the week with 5 to 7 sticker he could get a prize...something small like a pack of gum or candy might encourage him. I would however try to ease off this after he starts to take the med well...You don't always want to encourage these behaviors with meds, or to think medicines are good if you know what I mean.
Good luck!

Answer 2

Take it from a person who can't swallow pills and crushes them up, NEVER PUT IT IN MILK! For some reason, milk enhances the flavour of almost any medicine.

If you want a great way to do it, put it in some V-8 or other carrot based juice. It pretty much eliminates the flavour if you mix it with quite a bit of the juice.

Answer 3

Try crushing up the pill and mixing it into his milk or applesauce.

Answer 4

-slip it inside a banana and give it to him as snack.
-change the medicine to OZEN syrup.
-that suggestion on the first answer is good