I, too, used to be one of those kids who couldn't swallow a pill. Everything was tried: crushing it and mizing with pudding, freezing it into the end of a popsicle, peanut butter, brute force, etc. They all worked for a little while..but no more. One day my mother and I noticed that I have no problem swallowing whole ice-cubes...obviously significantly larger than even the largest pill. The solution we came up with to swallow pills was absurdly simple...and the way I still do it today.

The "normal" way is to put the pill in your mouth, then add liquid and swallow. MY WAY is to put the liquid in my mouth, tilt my head back (so it doesn't spill out), and drop the pill in. Close my mouth, and swallow. It works like a charm.

Using this method I'm able to swallow the whole cocktail I'm prescribed. (3 x 300mg Gabapentin...big pills. 1 x 60mg Strattera...avg size. 2 x Ativan...small size.) I swallow all of those in one "gulp" by simply adding the liquid first. 13 years later and I still use this method. Try it! There are no texture issues to work with, as the pills mainly float in the liquid until the swallowing begins...texture was one of the big reasons I couldn't do it before.

Quote

Both of my children are ADHD - my 9-year old daughter was diagnosed when she was 7, we'd tried concerta, adderall and focalin - with each pill, it took two to get one down, the first time she'd try to take it, she'd be so upset, she'd throw it right back up. I tried applesauce, peanut butter, wrapping it in bread, rolls, literally cutting out a hole in a cube of cheese to try to get her to take it that way. Nothing worked. I talked to the doctor and he switched her to the Daytrana patch and although they had to fiddle with the dosage (because it works so differently than the pills). But finally we're at a good dose and a good behavior level.

My son was just diagnosed this year and although he doesn't like taking the pills (Vyvanse) and he gives me a hard time, he does take them and doesn't have any actual problems in taking them. Since he's only 5, the doctor said that we should wait a while before trying to switch him over to the patch because he won't understand that he HAS to keep it on.

There is a chewable and a liquid ADHD medication available as well, one is called Methylin. The only downside is that it has to be taken several times a day, but if your child really can't take pills or like my daughter gets herself worked up and makes herself vomit, then it's a good alternative - I wish it had been around a few years ago. Good Luck.

Quote

My son is 8 and a half and has been taking Ritalin for his ADHD since he was 5 and a half. I never wanted to go wtih medications, but when your child is on the verge of being kicked out of school (in Kindergarden no less) you try just about anything. Once I saw how well the meds worked we kept him on them, and three years later he is still working effectively on the lowest possible dose....which brings me to swallowing pills.

I have no idea why he can't swallow that pill, it's SO TINY! He chews his Ritalin, always has. He has never once complained about the taste either. I don't know if the Ritalin is always going to work for him, but he knows that since he won't swallow pills we can't try anything else like the extended release Ritalin. The pharmacist said we could open the capsule and sprinkle it on applesause, but the doctor insisted I shouldn't do that. He says the meds are made to be absorbed in certain parts of his body and if we open the capsule and let him take it that way the meds are being absorbed in the wrong part of the body. We wanted to try the extended release because his meds wear off at 3pm and after school homework and home life is extrememly chaotic with him...but until he can swallow a pill I guess we will just keep letting him chew up his Ritalin.

Quote

I am a pediatric RN. About 10 years ago I learned this trick and it works great!! Do NOT put a pill ON the tongue or toward the back of the mouth. Place the pill or capsule UNDER the tongue off to one side then drink with a straw. The natural flow of swallowing is like a wave. it washes it down. I have been able to get some 3 year olds to swallow pills this way and both of my own children from age of 5. If your child has had a bad experience in the past practice with tic tacs or skittles or similiar (give them the choice and the choice of what to drink) and tell him you found a NEW way. It may take a bit to get them to try, depending on their past experience. For bad tasting meds---you should be able to buy EMPTY gel caps. Put the tablet in the empty capsule. We do this in the hospital-I imagine your pharmacy would need to special order it. Crushing always seems to make things worse, but if you try it, don't use ice cream as it tends to stick to the spoon. Also, layer it. so that the med is completely covered not just sitting on top. I hope this helps

Quote

A "must-have" for my kids to meds is a spoonful of yogurt & sprinkles (non-pareils) on the top. Any store has the sprinkles in the cake decorating/baking section. The small, dot-sized ones are easiest to work with. I've used this for giving everything from chewable Amoxicillin to Ritalin LA in a capsule. I have heard you aren't supposed to open the capsule, but it WORKS! My son is a much better student when he takes his Ritalin. Good luck!

Quote

My 8 year old has been on various meds since he was 5. We are currently taking Focalin XR. We practiced swallowing the pills with mini M&Ms. It took a little work to get him to just swallow, but now it's down in 3 seconds.

Be very careful about crushing or cutting pills. Not all work if that's done.

Quote

I had the same trouble with my son until my friend told me about the oralflo cup. I ordered it online, it arrived two days later. My son, husband and I all looked at it thinking this is not going to work........I am happy to say we were all wrong it works like a charm. Everyone adult/child who dislikes swallowing pills should have one. You can find it at www.oralflo.com. Good Luck

Quote

My almost 6 year old son has been diagnosed with adhd since he was 5 and we have been on 5 different meds because nothing was working, well they worked but turned him into adepressed kid who just cried. finally we may have found the solution which is concerta but I can't get him to swallow his pill. He trys to chew it but its not effective when he chews it and I can't get him to swallow it whole. It's about the size of tictac but he thinks he's gonna choke or throw up. At first he was doing okay and the medicine worked but now he refuses to swallow the minute it hits his mouth he starts chewing. All the other pills I was able to crush or open to get the powder but they didn't work and yes he tried the daytrana patch but he was crying and depressed and now that we found a good med for him I can't get him to take it properly. I've tried ice cream nope he chewed ity to find the pill. I've tried so much I am so fustrated I don't know whatr to do any ideas?

Quote

I remember my mother pushing pills down my throat--almost choked to death when it went in my windpipe! This can be dangerous if aspirate into lungs. But I survived and have some suggestions for other parents. The child's age is major decision maker on how to help take their meds. Jello, pudding, applesauce, peanut butter, pb and jelly, cottage cheese, soy shakes, cream cheese (flavored if desired), melted cheese with salsa mixed in, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes mashed, no bake cookies, mashed banana or other fruit of choice, etc. Cannot crush time released tablets, etc. But if type of tablet that can be crushed--crush and mix with juice or smoothie. I mixed my son's pills crushed with a little juice or water--then used syringe (without needle!), put inside of cheek about 2/3 back (past taste buds which are on sides/front of tongue) and squirted in--then gave drink of juice. Eventually with age and ability to swallow improved, they will learn. Feeling inadequate/stress only tightens muscles and worsens ability to swallow. Patience and faith helps most.

Quote

Many try to chew if feel bite is too large and they will choke. Although the taste may not be as good tasting with less flavor of food---some of my elderly patients that I give meds, like cinnamon applesauce or rice pudding with cinnamon--as cinnamon helps disguise bitteriness of med. Also I have used jelly preserves--not jelly as they can pick out med right off! Teaspoon of crunchy peanut butter is also good disguise if small pill. Pharmacies have flavorings you can buy also to flavor medicines--these are not expensive and available in a lot of flavors. Also note that when you put a liquid in your mouth and tilt your chin down--liquid floats toward back of throat along with pill and then just need to swallow naturally, not big gulp. As person swallows trachea/windpipe flap temporarily shuts off airway to lungs, so food goes to stomach and not aspirated into lung. Big gulping swallow pushs tongue to roof of mouth and holds pill there if not far enough into throat--then child might panic thinking he or she is going to choke, throw up, etc. Some children take longer to grow past gag reflex it seems--matter of muscle development in each child is different. Hope I have been of some help and encouragement for you. Doctors and pharmacists may also have ideas to help your child and you with taking their medication.

Quote