medicine

[tpigford]

We have a very difficult time getting our autistic son to swallow liquid medicine, such as cough medicine. Has anyone found something that works in this regard? It takes two of us holding him down to squirt it in his mouth with a syringe. If we are not both home, it is next to impossible to give him liquid meds.

[Stephanie]

Hi Terry...is there any way to get his meds in pill form? For my son...we get all of his meds in pill form...crush them and mask them with applesauce, pudding or yogurt...sometimes even ice cream. Hope this helps. :)
Stephanie

[tpigford]

Have you found an effective cough medicine in pill form? Jacob takes imipramine for anxiety and depakote for seizures and both of those we sprinkle in applesauce twice a day. We've also had success with antibiotics we can crush - it is this cough medicine that's been the biggest problem.

[Stephanie]

My son is only 9...and we use Tylenol cough and cold..this comes in a pill form...we also use the Benedryl quick dissolves for allergys...I would imagine that most cough medicines come in the pill form. Are these cough medicines over the counter or from your doctor?

[Lucas]

I close my eyes and all I see is me being held down being forced to swallow something. It's terrible. I'm glad you're trying to find another way. Often these things are the result of sensory defensiveness; the taste or the texture of the medicine is awful and I think it's a shame that there aren't any alternatives on the market to cater for sensory defensive people, a hypo-spray comes to mind. Cough medicines are overrated anyway, chocolate, ice cream with syrup and yogurt work much better and how many kids disagree with them?

[jnkkmom]

My son was the same way - but now that he is 8 - he'll take medicine. He isn't happy about it - but he'll do it.

Stephanie - have you noticed that the benedryl dissolving tabs knock your son out? When we give one to Kody, he's out within 1/2 - 1 hour and hardly moves all night - makes me kinda nervous.

[Adam's MoM]

-I finally taught my son to take a pill...made it a game...use a sippy cup or straw so that they have to suck and the pill goes right down.
- If that doesn't work use gogurt or trix yogurt they are so strong in their crazy flavors that they will mask the flavor of any med. I would put his liquid med in a syringe and then suck up some more of the gogurt and shake it together and then let him squirt it in his mouth....he felt like he was in control like that.

[Wanda]

Have you ever tried putting the liquid med in some strawberry or chocolate milk? I had to use this technique on my father in law who has parkinsons. He would drink it right down. Just don't give so much that he may not want to drink it all. A small amount.