Medication Fights

[Teri]

As I read through the postings and read about all the supplements kids are taking .... I just wonder how folks get their kids to take the medications & supplements???

 

I feel like I spend so much time and energy trying to get DD who just turned 6 to take the medications she is currently on. Medications include : azithromycin 1x, Motrin 2x, Cipro 2x, Lamisil 1x, probiotic, Claritan 1x & Veramyst & asthma meds only as needed. Some days we practically have to stand on our heads to get her to take the medicine particularly if she is not feeling well.

I have to give up trying to get her to take vitamins right now because it just feels like one more thing "she has to take". We aren't quite at the swallowing pill stage yet so most meds are liquid with the exception of the Lamisil which she can swallow.

 

Is this a common thing for some of you out there? I feel bad for her always having to take meds ( 7 months of steady azithromycin & Cipro added 6 weeks ago). Her labs indicate something going on but we don't see Dr. B for another week so we need to figure out how to live with this. Any advice folks ?

[LNN]

Learning to swallow pills was a big help in my house. My kids practiced on tic tacs but mini M&Ms work too. For every one they swallowed, they got to eat one. My kids also have an unconventional way of taking their pills. They take a swig of water first, then push the pill into their mouths. This keeps the pill off the tongue and they think it's easier than feeling a pill sitting in your mouth. The downside is that you can only take one pill at a time this way, instead of several at a time, but it works for them.

 

The other thing that helped was that my son had to go off all supplements on two different occasions to prepare for urine tests. Each time, he felt much worse and started to see that all the pills actually did help. Now, he never argues. He also chimes in when his younger sister complains, reassuring her that "Trust me - you do not want to skip these pills". My daughter had to stop all supplements a month ago, including her allergy meds, and she felt the effects. So she's a little more compliant now.

[nicklemama]

It would be worth it if you could get her to swallow pills. DS, at age 6, was very motivated when he figured out he wouldn't taste the medicine any more. My plan was to start out w/ M&M's. I came home w/ azith pills from the pharmacy. I got out the M&M's and DS announced he didn't need practice, he knew he could do it. Swallowed the azith right down and we've never looked back. I'd give it a good try. He now takes a mountain load of pills each day. Honestly, I don't know how he's hungry for breakfast after taking all his morning pills.

[SSS]

I also had to get very hardcore-

It HAS to happen mentality, it is medicine.

Such and such are not going to happen until we take the 'vitamins'

Call me wicked, I've also said if we don't take the pills, then we go to shots.

Reward system-

I let her take them with low sugar juice box, she doesn't get to drink them otherwise.

[LNN]

Call me wicked, I've also said if we don't take the pills, then we go to shots.

 

 

Ok, you're wicked You'd be the worst mom ever, except my kids have already given that title to me You can be second worst mom ever, if you want to be runner up in case I ever fail to measure up to the responsibilities of my title.

[dcmom]

I agree with S&S- medication HAS to become your non- negotiable. Your kids need to know you mean it. That means nothing- no food, no playing, no tv, etc until the meds are taken. After a few blowouts, she will get you are serious, and take them.

 

And YES swallowing pills is a MUST. My dd learned at 5 because she HATED the taste of meds. She learned on probiotic pearls- teeny tiny.

 

Good luck- it is for her own good.

 

It does however sound like she is taking a lot so I would not add to your list for now.

[Dedee]

I agree with all the above. I can also sympathize with what you are going through. The best thing we ever did was to teach my daughter to take pills when she was 7. We used skittles and I was so shocked at how quickly she learned. It's something we struggle with everyday. Some days are less of a struggle than others. We make it non-negotiable also. No medicine, no play or TV or games. Sometimes it gets really ugly. When things are good, she can take them in no time, other times it may take 30 minutes or longer to get it all down. It's my worst nightmare. Wish I could say something magical to help. Just know you aren't alone. Keep up the good work!

 

Dedee

[MomWithOCDSon]

I feel for those of you with younger kids for whom pill-swallowing still represents a "frontier." I know it must be challenging!

 

Several weeks ago, DS had a friend over after school on a Friday, and he invited his pal to stay for dinner. I pulled DS aside for a minute to ask him if he wanted me to set his meds/sups aside for him in the kitchen where he could take them privately, rather than putting them out on the dining table like we usually do when it's just family. He looked at me with a blank stare and nonchalantly said, "I don't care; XXX (his friend) won't care. Unless maybe you want me to take them privately so he doesn't think you're a nut or something."

 

So, I guess I've graduated from Worst Mom Ever to Mom the Nut. I wear the title proudly!

[nicklemama]

MomWithOCDSon- You have given me a good chuckle tonight, lol! I am the resident nut around here. I am certain my friends think I am the one who needs help judging by how many pills my DS takes in a day's time!!!!

 

DS has been giving me some push back lately on his pills. He takes them but complains about it sometimes and has started asking me how long he has to take "all these pills". I answer "when your PANDAS goes away".

 

There are very few things in our house that are non negotiable. One is taking a bath, two is brushing your teeth and three is taking your meds. Having a child with PANDAS has really impacted what I hold as important and how I judge others who's children are acting out.

[dcmom]

Nancy-

 

That is hysterical. It is also great, and probably shows how far he has come- that he assumes others would look at YOU as the crazy one!

[smartyjones]

we have done lots of things in juice. . . but it can be tricky b/c it may not hide the taste so good and you can get into having too much juice and then you are just drinking A LOT of a bad thing. older ds gets it that he just wants a little of something bad; younger ds can end up with a larger glass of yuck. we're lately on cherry juice which hides pretty well -- although i'm not talking about abx.

 

younger ds is on a vitamin regime with 3, soon to be 4, medium capsules in am and pm,. we've gone to tryng pills -- younger ds can swallow without trouble; older ds(10) really just can't get it. we've done the mini m&m thing. 10 year old can't even swallow a mini m&m. he generally thinks to think too much and in this, just can't get it down.l

 

as much as i hate bribery and threats b/c i know how bad it can turn -- whne younger ds balks, he responds really well to 2 for 1. if he is not cooperating with what we have asked - pills included -- we set a timer and he loses 2 minutes for every 1 of not cooperating of screen time. in theory, i'd rather not do this - but it gets the job done.

[airial95]

We havw had success with our 4 yo swallowing pills usibg the oralflo cup ($14 on amazon) its looks like a modified sippy cup, but it has worked for him. He swallows the tic tacs/m&m's but panics when it come to the real deal. The cup has helped.

 

For us - when outsiders are over it makes it easier. We makr a big deal if showing off what a big boy we are, swallowing pills.

 

As for bribery - my son just "earned" a ps vita game system with bonus stars on his chore chart for taking meds...whatever it takes.

Edited September 30, 2012 by airial95

[Teri]

Thanks to all of you for your replies! DD (just turned 6) has actually been a trooper with the medications. However when she is in a flare (which she is in now), we have to work much harder to get her to take them. So when she is not feeling well we get the pushback - the whining, she tries to implement rules around taking the meds. Our best bet honestly is to be tough & no nonsense with regards to taking them. There is no negotiating whether or not she takes them! I think after 7 months on daily meds she understands that she has to take them to get better.

 

This illness is so exhausting, depressing, and frustrating ...... For all of us.

[airial95]

Have you tried "racing" her? It's something that was suggested by one of our therapists. For our son it tends to work. we get his meds set up, and then we pull out ours (I take daily meds in the evening for my Ankylosing Spondylitis - but we've used vitamins, or other daily supplements if it wasn't time for our usual meds) - and we make it a race. My son always wins.

 

When he's extremely anxious - it may take a little longer...but this has been one of our little tricks that we use.

[Teri]

Have you tried "racing" her? It's something that was suggested by one of our therapists. For our son it tends to work. we get his meds set up, and then we pull out ours (I take daily meds in the evening for my Ankylosing Spondylitis - but we've used vitamins, or other daily supplements if it wasn't time for our usual meds) - and we make it a race. My son always wins.

 

When he's extremely anxious - it may take a little longer...but this has been one of our little tricks that we use.