What To Do If My Child Is Not Taking Medications

Children often do not like to take medicines. There are many reasons for this such as, taste dislike, difficulty in swallowing, or immediate side effects. It is at this point of time, parents need to convince children to take their medicine regularly. However, this is a bit difficult task and becomes even tougher, if your child is stubborn. Moreover, children are sometimes obstinate and may not cooperate, but this becomes a problem when the medicines need to be taken regularly.

You should realize that it’s required that your children accept and follow their treatment. So, instead of concentrating on your child to take medicine on telling him/her to do so, you need to explain your child about the importance of treatment. Further, know that children who realize that they are taken seriously and are included in the discussions with teachers and doctors might start taking medicines properly rather than just instructing them what to take, how much to take, and how many times to take.

Keeping in mind the above point, it is necessary to have a frequent and effective communication between parents, children, and doctors. To start with, the specialist must inform you about the different treatments suitable for your child and consider any worry that you or your child might have.

In short, the key to solve the problem is, “You can always make a treatment pleasant.” Let’s see how.

Seven Reasons of Not Taking Medicines

Listed below are the seven reasons of not taking medicines or running away from it.

• Unawareness of the Benefits
  Certain children might not understand why medication is necessary, might feel a non-requirement as they think they are not sick, and follow the footsteps of their siblings, as they do not take then why should I.
• Fear of Pressure
  Certain children have a feeling that the parents and doctors unnecessarily pressurize (force) them for taking the medicines. So, they naturally run away from it.
• Fear of what others Think, Teasing, or Bullying
  This becomes a cause of not taking medicines when they usually are to be taken at school or in front of other children.
• Forgetfulness
  Children might not remember to take their medicines, if not told or reminded. This is often the case at school, picnics, and in other public places.
• Hatred towards the Medicine’s Taste or Texture
  This results in unwillingness of children to take medicines.
• Fear of Side Effects
  Children always have the fear of side effects that take immediately after taking the medicine, such as stomach pain or headache. This will prevent them to take the medicine again.
• Difficulty in Gulping Down the Tablets.

Dealing with Your Child

At first, speak to your child politely and spot out what is preventing your child from taking medicines. Listen carefully to his/her concerns and avoid opposing any of them immediately. Behave as you really like what he/she is saying and ask relevant questions, as this will make your child feel involved. For instance, if the child says that he/she does not like the taste of the medicine. Here, do not commit the mistake of scolding him/her. This is because many parents become short-tempered due to irrelevant reasons. Remember it might be irrelevant for you and that you can ignore this reason in front of the medicine’s advantages, but this is relevant for your child as he/she is small to understand the benefits.
Rather, ask questions such as, “what is the taste – bitter or tasteless”.

After understanding the concerns of your child, you can implement the following solutions as per the reasons.

For Being Unaware of the Importance of the Medicine

Explain to your child patiently and in simple words as to why taking the prescribed medicines is necessary (uses) and what its benefits are. Your doctor should initiate this.

Try to relate the medicine’s benefits with your child’s symptoms and other triggered problems. Certain examples of doing this are:

• Taking this medicine will help you to listen will full concentration so that you will not forget it at all.
• It will make you behave properly so that you teacher does not scold or pass comment on you.
• By taking this medicine regularly, you will become like other children so that you can make friends and play with them.

Enacting a play is a better option to help understand the need of the medicines.

For Being Worried about What Others Think, Teasing, or Bullying

Most of these problems are solved once you talk to the class teacher of your child and agree on certain solutions to the problem. The best solution is to talk to the teacher about giving the medicines in private, instead of in the class or in front of other children.

If you child forgets to take a lunchtime or break time dose, ensure that there is someone to remind your child of the dose on time. The other solution is to set an alarm using the wristwatch of your child. However, if your child fails to take a dose, never go for a double dose thereafter.

If your child is on methylphenidate, it is advised for a slow-release of the medicine. It means that the medicine is to be given slowly in the entire day. Currently, three types of such a medicine are available in the U.K. namely:

• Concerta XL
• Equasym XL
• Medikinet XL

If your child is worried of his/her impression in the eyes of others, which is of being abnormal, compare the treatment of the other children with different disorders with your child’s treatment. For instance, children with asthma have inhalers, kids with polio have walking sticks, and so on. Try to make them understand how each child is unique.

For Difficulty in Gulping Down the Tablets or Capsules

Try to attempt the following tips if this is the issue.

• Think of a funny way to take the medicine easily.
• Provide your child a glass of water or juice to help take the medicine down the mouth and throat. For example, giving a glass of thick liquid such as milkshake or yoghurt drink along with the medicine makes it easy for the child to swallow.
• See if you can break the tablet into small pieces without affecting the dose amount. You can do so with your hand or with a tablet cutter that you need to bring from a medical shop. Certain medicines that can be broken into pieces with hand itself include:
  • Equasym
  • Medikinet
  • Ritalin
  • Unbranded methylphenidate
  • Dexedrine tablets
• See if you can open the capsules and sprinkle its contents immediately, without any delay, on the food that does not need to be chewed. However, this needs an immediate glass of liquid, as the contents of the capsules should not be chewed. If chewed or crushed, the medicines will become ineffective. Examples of medicines that can be opened and given in this manner are:
  • Equasym XL
  • Medikinet XL
• If you child has swallowing problem, Concerta XL tablets and Strattera capsules can be difficult for intake. This is because chewing is not allowed and further you cannot break or crush these tablets. However, Concerta XL tablets are given a similar shape of a capsule for easy swallowing. But, still problems might persist. Therefore, these medicines might not be suitable for your child. Check out with the doctor on this issue.

Hatred towards the Taste and Texture

Try to attempt the following tips if this is the issue.

• Try to give a liquid that your child likes and then immediately put in the capsule or tablet. This will prevent the child to feel the taste of the medicine.
• Give the capsule or tablet with sweet food, with honey or jam.
• See if you can crush tablets and mix it with the food or drink. Make sure that your child is aware of this. Ask the doctor regarding crushing, as you must never crush Concerta XL, Equasym XL, Medikinet XL, or Strattera.

Generic Tips

• Use a tender but a firm approach.
• Remain cool if your child refuses repeatedly. If you are short-tempered, start counting 1-10 the minute you are about to get angry, breathe deeply, and come back again to discussing in five minutes or half an hour. See if you can ask your partner or a close friend to talk to your child and convince him/her.
• Set a fixed place and time of a medicine as if it is a part of daily routine.
• Stop instructing the child. Instead, ask whether he/she would like to take a pineapple juice along with the problem-solving good tablets.
• Encourage your child by giving gifts such as toys and chocolates.
• Admire your child when he/she shows interest in taking medicines. For example, tell him/her that you are really happy of its interest. This will give him confidence and inspiration to continue taking the medicines regularly.
• Never force your child.
• Inform the child always that you have mixed the medicine along with the child’s food.
• Never lie that the medicines are sweet in taste.
• Never give medicines as a punishment.

A Last Line…

If you ever feel that none of the strategies is working, have patience, keep talking to your child always, and take help from doctors, teachers, and friends.

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