Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
difficult child won't take medications
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 376820" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>Janet has some good points and great ideas.</p><p> </p><p>Is it possible he is refusing because he is afraid that he will choke if he swallows it? It might be something he cannot even put into words, so it comes out as refusal with-o any reason. It would be a good idea to call the pharmacy to see if the medication is available in any other format - liquid, etc... If it is concerta then it is not because it is time released. </p><p> </p><p>Offer to let your difficult child have some beverage he does not often get, but really likes, to swallow the medicine with. Just don't try that 5 hour energy stuff, LOL!! Even a power drink if he is just going to have a few ounces of it (and you are sure you can keep him and everyone else out of the rest of the container!). </p><p> </p><p>Does he have a favorite cookie or candy, maybe something he doesn't get very often? Offer to let him have one piece/cookie after he takes his medications in the am. Heck, if his favorite thing is cake or even ice cream, offer to let him have a small serving right after he takes his medications IF he will eat a decent amount of something high in protein first. I know that cake/cookies/ice cream/pie is NOT breakfast food (unless your dad is Bill Cosby and mom is somewhere else, lol), but in this case they may be the right bribe/carrot to reach a larger, more important goal. Some cereals, even ones that schools serve, have at least as much sugar as a small serving, or it sure seems like it!</p><p> </p><p>Then you have to watch him eat some deli meat, a couple of eggs, even protein powder mixed with whatever. After that, offer his medications - washed down with his beverage of choice, and a serving of whatever. Just don't let him have the sugary cereal, or pancakes/waffles with syrup too! I know my difficult child would have tried, LOL!!!</p><p> </p><p>It may be that the candy/cake/whatever is enough novelty that he won't continue to refuse medications. If that doesn't work right away, has he ever shared a box of chocolates with the family (family box, or mom's box that he got a few pieces of?)? Maybe you could take him to pick out a box of chocolates that would be all his - but Mom keeps them locked up and he gets a piece if he takes his medications. He gets to see that the candy is right there when he takes his medications, and gets to eat it as soon as you make sure he swallowed the pill(s).</p><p> </p><p>The 6 week arrangement is also very very good. It sends a message to him that he is your "partner" in his health care. As a child he is the minor partner, of course. As he grows up the idea is to gradually let him have more control until he becomes the majority partner when he is an adult. He may think 6 weeks is forever, so pick a point that is about 6 weeks from when he started the medication. He can focus on that rather than the idea of "six weeks". In keeping with the partner idea, why not have him "take a meeting" with you weekly, set on the calendar and everything, so he can let you know how he is feeling and how the medication is or isn't changing things. You can offer your view of his behavior, attitudes, etc... and listen to his, as well as discuss any side effects. </p><p> </p><p>Concerta is a long acting form of ritalin. For some people it works better than ritalin XR, not for others. Others don't see a difference. If concerta works well but has some side effects, it may be worth trying ritalin xr. Otherwise you can ask the doctor about another long acting stimulant. It may be worthwhile to tell difficult child at some point that if he won't swallow a pill he may have to take medications every 3 hours at school if he has to have a liquid. I don't think that any of the long acting medications are available in a liquid, for obvious reasons. </p><p> </p><p>I hope some of these ideas work.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 376820, member: 1233"] Janet has some good points and great ideas. Is it possible he is refusing because he is afraid that he will choke if he swallows it? It might be something he cannot even put into words, so it comes out as refusal with-o any reason. It would be a good idea to call the pharmacy to see if the medication is available in any other format - liquid, etc... If it is concerta then it is not because it is time released. Offer to let your difficult child have some beverage he does not often get, but really likes, to swallow the medicine with. Just don't try that 5 hour energy stuff, LOL!! Even a power drink if he is just going to have a few ounces of it (and you are sure you can keep him and everyone else out of the rest of the container!). Does he have a favorite cookie or candy, maybe something he doesn't get very often? Offer to let him have one piece/cookie after he takes his medications in the am. Heck, if his favorite thing is cake or even ice cream, offer to let him have a small serving right after he takes his medications IF he will eat a decent amount of something high in protein first. I know that cake/cookies/ice cream/pie is NOT breakfast food (unless your dad is Bill Cosby and mom is somewhere else, lol), but in this case they may be the right bribe/carrot to reach a larger, more important goal. Some cereals, even ones that schools serve, have at least as much sugar as a small serving, or it sure seems like it! Then you have to watch him eat some deli meat, a couple of eggs, even protein powder mixed with whatever. After that, offer his medications - washed down with his beverage of choice, and a serving of whatever. Just don't let him have the sugary cereal, or pancakes/waffles with syrup too! I know my difficult child would have tried, LOL!!! It may be that the candy/cake/whatever is enough novelty that he won't continue to refuse medications. If that doesn't work right away, has he ever shared a box of chocolates with the family (family box, or mom's box that he got a few pieces of?)? Maybe you could take him to pick out a box of chocolates that would be all his - but Mom keeps them locked up and he gets a piece if he takes his medications. He gets to see that the candy is right there when he takes his medications, and gets to eat it as soon as you make sure he swallowed the pill(s). The 6 week arrangement is also very very good. It sends a message to him that he is your "partner" in his health care. As a child he is the minor partner, of course. As he grows up the idea is to gradually let him have more control until he becomes the majority partner when he is an adult. He may think 6 weeks is forever, so pick a point that is about 6 weeks from when he started the medication. He can focus on that rather than the idea of "six weeks". In keeping with the partner idea, why not have him "take a meeting" with you weekly, set on the calendar and everything, so he can let you know how he is feeling and how the medication is or isn't changing things. You can offer your view of his behavior, attitudes, etc... and listen to his, as well as discuss any side effects. Concerta is a long acting form of ritalin. For some people it works better than ritalin XR, not for others. Others don't see a difference. If concerta works well but has some side effects, it may be worth trying ritalin xr. Otherwise you can ask the doctor about another long acting stimulant. It may be worthwhile to tell difficult child at some point that if he won't swallow a pill he may have to take medications every 3 hours at school if he has to have a liquid. I don't think that any of the long acting medications are available in a liquid, for obvious reasons. I hope some of these ideas work. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
difficult child won't take medications
Top