How can I get my 8 yr. old to take his Focalin XR, sprinkled?

24 Jul 2010

How cute is that my son is 9 yrs. old they are so cute at that age arent they. I took medication so i showed my son that mommy isnt scared to take her medicine and this had worked. Does he like yogurt? i have done direct care before and i would put their medication in their food whole pill and all. Maybe you can add it to his favorite food sprinkle it or have him put it on top of a bite of food.

26 Sep 2010

My daughter uses the applesauce to get the medicine down as she can not swallow the capsule either. You might try a nutella or peanut butter although that is not for me! I know someone who uses Pear babyfood. You could try Banana or whatever flavor works for your son. Since he is 8, he doesn't need to know that it is baby food, just a medicine helper.

3 Feb 2011

My son was just prescribed this drug this morning and his Dr. suggested sprinkling it on a spoonful of ice cream in the morning. I'm going to try it and see what happens. I imagine my son will be pretty excited about getting ice cream in the morning and won't really care what's sprinkled on it! :)

5 Mar 2011

Yogurt, pudding, strawberry flavored apple sauce, basically mushy foods. We have sprinkled his medicine in and on lots of things, however I was reading more and more and basically it needs to be a food that he can swallow and not chew because it says not to chew or crush the little beads that you are sprinkling it effects the time release properties. (oops I've put it on all kinds of breakfast foods) I also know our doctor has said not to disolve it in liquids. My 5 year started to refuse to eat anything that he knew it was in so that made things harder. Good luck!

6 Nov 2011

You should open and sprinkle the capsule in a spoonful of his favorite yogurt,appplesauce,pudding or other soft food. You do not need to tell him that his medication is in there as some children will develop an untrust in any foods you serve them if they are adverse to taking medication (make sure it is hidden well). Since you prob give it to him in the morning, you can use it as a reward for getting himself dressed or brushing his teeth or anything that he does everyday anyway. If he refuses anyway, tell him that this something you like to do for him before school and to humor you. It is only a spoonful afterall. Just make sure he doesn't chew. This works for one of my children and it is just part of our routine now to give him a tasty token (I tell him that this is our special "thing" and he is pleased that he does not have to share this with his siblings). He is five.

18 Jan 2012

We too have found the yogurt to be successful. I put a small amount on a spoon, sprinkle the capsule contents on it BUT make sure I stir it with a toothpick. Then top it off with a bit more yogurt. If I don't stir it he seems to still be able to crunch the little sprinkles. Best of all is he will finish off the yogurt as part of his breakfast.