Medicine

Medicine Tips & Tricks

Administering medicine is not always easy, especially when it’s part of every day life. We have compiled informational sites on the different drugs and their effects, tips and tricks. We hope you find this helpful in navigating CHD.

• When the time comes to give your child medicine, you might find it easiest if he sits in your lap. (Never give your child medicine while he’s lying on his back, as this can cause him to choke.)
• Place the end of the syringe in a corner of your child’s mouth. Aim the medicine inside the cheek, not in the front, where it can dribble out—or be spat out—and not way back in the throat, where it might cause your child to gag or choke.
• Don’t start with apologies. Be straightforward and act as if you expect your child to take the medicine without question. If you raise doubts, you may unwittingly convince your child that he should resist.
• Have a glass of his favorite drink ready to wash away the nasty taste of the medicine.
• Mix the medicine with a spoonful of applesauce. Don’t try to deceive your child by telling him it’s just applesauce. One taste and he’ll know you lied. Instead, tell him it will help make the medicine taste a little better. (Stick with just a spoonful of applesauce. The more applesauce you use, the more your child will have to eat to ensure that he takes all his medicine.)
• Pretend to give the medicine to a favorite stuffed animal first.
• Offer a reward for cooperation, something special—a favorite food, a favorite game, or a favorite book.
• If your child still won’t open his mouth, you may have to hold his nose. Not only will this force your toddler to open his mouth, it also will minimize his ability to taste the medicine. Tell your child about this benefit.
• Switch to chewable pills or capsules. Many children can take these even during the first year.
• You can prepare your child to take pills by using TicTac candies or M&M’s. This is NOT recommended for babies.

If your child won’t take pills or capsules:

• Crush the pills into a powder and stir the powder into a spoonful of applesauce.
• Sink a pill inside a small, overripe piece of banana and ask your toddler to swallow it without chewing.
• Wet the capsule to make it easier for your child to slide it down his throat.

Drug Assistance Programs

Kids.PPARx.org is a program that connects qualified, low-income people with discount prescription drugs, direct from the pharmaceutical manufacturer.

PPA is sponsored by America’s Pharmaceutical Research Companies. For more information go to www.pparx.org or call 1-888-4PPA-NOW.

SelectCare Benefits Network (SCBN) is one of America’s leading Patient Advocacy Organizations that specializes in free medicine and Prescription Assistance Programs. http://www.scbn.org/

Online Resources

RX List-The Internet Drug Index
Medicinenet – “Health and medical information produced by doctors.”
WebMD – “Web MD – better information, better health.”