A lot of times kids can't swallow the pill because they know it will start to dissolve and taste terrible. Try practicing with miniature M&Ms from the baking section of the store. They are about the size of the smaller pills and if they start to dissolve they taste even better. When he gets good at that, he can move up to full size M&Ms, with a big ceremony marking the occasion.

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Brilliant.....hadn't thought of candy ! Off to the store now...will keep you posted. Thank you so much for the idea.

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Our son also has a hard time. We put the pill in a spoon full of pudding. He swallows it and then takes a couple of drinks of water. This has helped him a lot.

Good luck!

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I used to grind up my daughters' pills and mix them into fudge sauce or Nutella. Later, I stopped grinding them up, but still covered them in chocolate.

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When my 4 yr son first started taking him ADHD medication he had problems trying to swallow the pills too. So we made it into a game. When I would give him his medication I would tell him to put it in his mouth then immediately have him take a drink of milk, but before he swallowed I would have him swish the milk around in his mouth to help lift the pill off his tounge and make it easier to swallow. I take vitamins so it would be a race to see who could swallow their pill the fastest. Being a boy he just loved the idea of racing with Mommy and winning every time. It did not take more than a week of this game for him to be able to take his pill with no problems.

I hope this helps! God Bless!

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We tried the m&m's and even cherios. They all went down fine eventually. As soon as I exchanged the pill/capsule though, you could see his whole body tense up. We tried for about a week every day. Now he just won't even try. Someone mentioned the chocolate thing. We have a chocolate shop not far from my work and they make their own chocolates. I am going to see if they can chocolate coat the capsules for me and see if I can get him to try again and do the race idea. I am not giving up ! Will keep you all posted. Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas and feedback. This is the first time I am using one of these forum thingies and I really appreciate your experiences and advice. I actually head a local support group here, so most of the time people are asking me for help. You are all sweethearts and it is greatly appreciated!

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We used to do the same thing as Tina, except we used applesauce. This was for my son. My daughter still has trouble swallowing, even now that she is in her twenties, and can only use liquid meds. I have heard of a spray you can put on the meds first, that makes them slippery, but I can't remember the name. Maybe someone else here knows of it. Can your son swallow candy or any other food that he likes? It could be fear. Perhaps he in the past has gotten the feeling that the pill was stuck in his throat, when in reality, he had swallowed it. I know I have.

Try giving him two spoonfuls of pudding or applesauce. The first should not have the med in it, and tell him so. The second should have the med in it. Give it to him, and see if he gags. Just a thought. Was our doctors idea years ago. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

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I am a Pharmacist with a few tricks for you. One of the tricks that I have taught many of my patients with children is to have their children practice with M&Ms using a straw or pop bottle initially. When you suck through a straw or drink from a bottle, your throat automatically opens up. Have them practice for a while until they get good, then try a tablet. Eventually, when they build up their confidence, they can do it with a glass of water! Also, remember, capsules float to the top of the mouth,tablets sink. Some children have trouble especially with capsules when you have them tip their head back to swallow. The capsule will float up to the top of the oral cavity and get stuck there instead of sliding down the throat. So, when your children swallow, don't have them tipping their heads way back, just keep them level. I hope that helps someone! Also,remember to ask your Pharmacist if it is okay to crush or open a med to add to food. Sometimes food is acidic and can hurt the medication or a tablet may be a slow release form that should not be crushed.

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