Better tasting antibiotics?!

[crystal7]

Evening family roomers. I took my daughter (3 in Feb) to see the gp today. She's got a patch of dry skin that has started to look angry. Gp thought it was a bacterial infection and gave me a prescription for Fluclxacillin. Problem is E wont touch it. Gave tried bribery, mixing with smoothie, sneaking it in but it's a no go. She was actually retching so I tasted a tiny bit and it is absolutely foul- 5mls would make me sick! My question is will the gp prescribe another antibiotic that tastes better? Obviously I want her to get better but I can't force the stuff down her throat! Thanks.

[Fuschia]

I did once get a new antibiotic issued for some ailment or another in similar circumstances

So worth a try

Ps you are not alone - http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/972185-better-tasting-alternative-to-flucloxacillin/AllOnOnePage

[damzel]

My daughter has just been on a course of Augmentin which she positively lapped up (although I have no idea whether you have different ABs for different things). This was for chest infection.

[bluesuperted]

Hmmm.... I don't know if this will work with a 3yo but I mixed it with yoghurt and (shock horror!) a bit of sugar - so it could hardly be tasted... I was desperate as my toddler suddenly wouldn't touch it and I was having nightmare thoughts of him forever immune to antibiotics because of this! Only problem was I had to make sure he ate the whole lot, but he always did...

[buggie]

Would try different things, but make sure you add it on dose by dose rather than to the bottle (know stating the obv!).

A bit of honey or sugar will prob take the bitterness out (and is prob what's been cut out of meds since we were kids!).

Make sure you don't water it down/add too much stuff to it as it'll then be difficult to get the whole dose down/won't know how much they've taken.

Fingets crossed it clears soon x

[candj]

Our GP prescribed banana flavoured and also fruit punch flavoured antibiotics for the two times we used them.

[Fuschia]

Some antibiotics are quite mild tasting and the sweet syrup works well

Others, like the one described here and one we had here recently for an war infection, taste really foul and are hard to disguise

It likes like flucloxicillin can actually make children vomit :-(

[Mrs TP]

My daughter also 3 in Feb has just been on anti-b for an ear infection. I bought a packet of jelly sweets, let her choose one and hold it in her hand each time I poured the medicine out. Then gave her the medicine and immediately she swallowed it she was allowed to eat the sweet. At one point towards the end of the course she gave me the sweet back as she didn't want it but still had the medicine.

[kristymac1]

Urghhh I feel your pain, my daughter has had recurrent tonsilitis for 18months (currently waiting for op to have them removed) and my heart sinks as soon as I know she needs ABs - its a battle which has often ended in tears for both of us. Most ABs which are prescribed (and there are more effective ABs for different bacterial infections) are sugar free, but I always ask for the ones which come sugar laden, they're still pretty vile (some are like petrol!) but it takes the edge off it, and coupled with a sweet before taking the medicine and one immediately afterwards we seem to be managing better this time.

Good luck!

[Pickle]

What a shame - I have fond memories of a child of being prescribed Amoxycillin (excuse spelling) which was the thick white stuff you kept in the fridge... my Mum used to have to hide it as I loved it so much.

My kids have both in the past been prescribed the same stuff by the GP, with the same reaction - they love it. I guess it's specific to particular types of infection, but certainly a lot easier to get children to take.

Hope she feels better soon.

[crystal7]

Thanks for the advice. I'm currently waiting for Dr to call me back. I tried mixing with honey, gummy bear before and after, chocolate coins but still retching every time. She's normally very good with calpol and was actually quite excited at this new medicine. Hopefully dr can prescribe something else, I just can't see this getting down. Not sure how interchangeable antibiotics are though...

[Fuschia]

There are other options for skin infections

Or even possibly cream?

[Ko]

Pickle Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> What a shame - I have fond memories of a child of

> being prescribed Amoxycillin (excuse spelling)

> which was the thick white stuff you kept in the

> fridge... my Mum used to have to hide it as I

> loved it so much.

>

i was going to say amoxycilin too. i used to have loads of it as a child as i had lots of chest infections and was asthmatic. i was hooked on the stuff and thought it tasted as good as chocolate! not sure if your child needs to have a specific antibiotic?

[Fuschia]

Amoxycillin isn't the right antibiotic for the bacteria that usually cause skin infections

My son had flucloxicillin recently so I know how unpopular it is

He gulped it down followed by water and a bit if chocolate, but it's easier to persuade an 8 year old

[ClareC]

My daughter had a skin infection recently, sounds like the same stuff we were given, bright pink and tastes awful! I gave her a piece of chocolate afterwards. Amoxicillin far nicer :)