I would definitely practice swallowing with candy. We find my son can swallow with pudding. You can try yogurt or pudding if applesauce doesn't work. Anyway, practice with a small candy and work your way up (start with ice cream sprinkles and increase the size). For my son, we used the 'smarties, since he doesn't like M & Ms (I don't know how I gave birth to anyone that doesn't like M&Ms).
There is also a a pill swallowers cup, which I found on Ebay, but it didn't work for us. (might work for you).
Good Luck
I just received an email from Shire Pharmaceuticals today about their new patch for 7 to 12 year olds. It is called Daytrana and it is Concerta. It will be available in pharmacies in the United States by the end of June, according to them. This should be helpful to all of us parents who have children who cannot swallow pills, like my twins.
THANK YOU ILL HAVE CHECK OUT THE CUP AND THE PATCH WOULDNT WORK AS HE'S ONLY BUT THANKS TO ALL
my son is only 4 and one of his medications come in a pill... i crush it and put it in some juice...oh i almost forgot... some meds you can't mix with orange juice... CONCERTA YOU CANT CRUSH ONLY CUT IN HALF A DILEMMA BUT THANK YOU
my son was recently prescribed concerta and it comes in a pill form he has trouble swallowing it.He's only 5 not used to swallowing pills tryed it in applesauce but gaged i had to really fight him on it to get it down
Any tips :
thanks
copinGmama38880.7652083333
Thank you .good to know as today was his 2ND dose and the pharmacy said i could cut it, they looked it up.but Ive been doing this Yikes I'll just start tomorrow as he already took his.thanks
copinGmama38881.4541550926My daughter is older but will only swallow the pills if I put it in a spoon of milk from her cereal. After swallowing it down, she continues to eat her cereal. This is probably no better than the applesauce you tried.
Here is some information from the manufacturer of Concerta. Concerta should "not be chewed, divided or crushed" from the prescribing information. This means it should not be cut it in half (divided). It has to do with the dose delivery system; which I think is quite clever.
http://www.concerta.net/active/mccus/en_US/html/concerta/uti lities/patient_info.pdf#zoom=100
Daytrana, which is Concerta is now available in Pharmacies in the US. Here is the link to all the information about it. I am excited because my 8 year old son did so well with the Concerta, but started to gag on the pills and wouldn't try anymore to swallow them. Nothing has worked as well since.
Daytrana (methylphenidate) ADHD Patch Medication & Treatment
We practiced with Orange Tic Tacs before giving him the real thing. After a few tries he got it. Now he's to the point that he can take two pills at the same time.CopinGmama,
My son has been on 18 mg of Concerta for 9 months (FYI, it can not be chewed or cut in half, as that ruins the time release). We have found that taking the pill witha small scoop of peanut butter has worked quite well, as peanut butter is smooth and required no chewing. Hope this can work for you too.
I know this is awful, but my son can not even swallow it in anything I mix it with. He asked if I could just shove it down his throat, his words. so he sticks his tongue out, and I drop it in the back of his throat. He then can take a drink and swallow it. I asked if this was ok, and he said yes, he wants to take it. So, this works for us. And for all who might think this cruel, he really wants to feel normal, like the pill makes him feel, again, his words. Good luck.I do not know how my husband did it but he taught my daughter how to swallow pills by putting liquid in the mouth first then tilt the head back method. She practiced and is proud of herself she can do it and when she takes her allergy med she can do 2 at a time. She is different however never liked liquid meds or chew tabs would fight us and refuse them constantly could never get her to medicate. when she had a fever what fun forcing liquid or chew tabs on her. Now she loves to take it like a grown up and will never go back.
Have you child practice with something small like a tic tac.