ADHD meds in milk?

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So I got this 5 year old Kindergarten student, was diagnosed with ADHD- unspecified type. They prescribed him 10 mg of Vyvanse and the mother instructed me to give it in milk? The APs and I were a bit baffled because I never heard of this method. So I called the doctor and they did indeed say to try in milk, but if the effects didn't happen to switch to pills.

Two questions:

You ever done this method and so how did you make sure it was actually working?

And also if it doesn't work, how do you teach a 5 year old how to swallow pills? Any tricks?

Thanks!

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

The easiest way to do this is empty the capsule in a med cup, tap the med cup on the counter so all the med will collect on one side, dump the cup into the kids mouth, fill the cup up with water and let him chase it down.

Second easiest way is to dump the capsule in a med cup, add a few ml of water, tip the cup so the med will collect on one side, and let them suck the med out through one of the skinny cafeteria straws.

Juice, apple sauce, yogurt, milk, etc is a pain in the...

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Specializes in Emergency / Disaster.

Ok - so as the mom of a todder who spit cherry tylenol in my super long hair on a regular basis - the child learned how to take pills when she was just 2.

Under the advice of her doc - I started out with mini m&ms. They were small and would eventually melt if she couldn't swallow them. Once she got those, we moved up to tic tacs. Then we moved to regular size m&ms. Then to peanut m&ms. She was swallowing peanut m&ms by the time she was 5. The kid can swallow half a horse now at 19 - but requires cough medicine in pill form - she still won't take liquids. Her dad never accepted that and even at 12 she was spitting cough medicine in his face.

It wasn't like I sat there and told her to swallow candy - it was always practice for medicine because she really didn't want to take liquids. I never had issues with her swallowing stuff when I wasn't around or abusing that privilege for having candy to practice swallowing. Come to think of it - it was her idea to use peanut m&ms. She liked getting 3 pieces of candy to swallow every day and 3 pieces to eat.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

hurricane, I wish we had more parents like you. The norm is, little darling won't...and we adapt to try and complete the mission. My #4 son was like that. He learned to swallow pills very early; my alternative to liquid was suppository administration.:woot:

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
The easiest way to do this is empty the capsule in a med cup, tap the med cup on the counter so all the med will collect on one side, dump the cup into the kids mouth, fill the cup up with water and let him chase it down.

Second easiest way is to dump the capsule in a med cup, add a few ml of water, tip the cup so the med will collect on one side, and let them suck the med out through one of the skinny cafeteria straws.

Juice, apple sauce, yogurt, milk, etc is a pain in the...

Apple sauce is a pain...but when it is necessary. I found that the "squeezable" applesauce is THE best thing since sliced bread!

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
hurricane, I wish we had more parents like you. The norm is, little darling won't...and we adapt to try and complete the mission. My #4 son was like that. He learned to swallow pills very early; my alternative to liquid was suppository administration.:woot:

Yep. I had one of those boys too. I knew he felt really bad with headache/fever/whatever (and needed tylenol) when he was little and he went right to the point ....He would say "Mom, just give me the butt medicine!!":nailbiting:

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I guess I'll use all these tips with my kids at home, and at school so I can help them more.

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He would say "Mom, just give me the butt medicine!!":nailbiting:

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

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Specializes in Peds, MS, DIDD, Corrections, HH, LTC, School Nurse.
hurricane, I wish we had more parents like you. The norm is, little darling won't...and we adapt to try and complete the mission. My #4 son was like that. He learned to swallow pills very early; my alternative to liquid was suppository administration.:woot:

I agree OD we need more moms like Hurricane. I have a kid in the 7th grade still requesting his medication opened and mixed with applesauce, it's in his 504. Really?!?! :banghead:

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I work with all special needs students so i've become a chef, mad scientist, and a whole bunch of roles. I sprinkle crushed medicine/capsules between oreos. Also Put it in scoops of ice cream. I give liquid meds in a bit of apple sauce or put it in a small juice box. I've gotten permission from the doctors for crushing meds and all of the meds have been effective. It's hard to teach a child to swallow pills since it takes a lot of motor planning and sequencing, but a doctor recommended to a parent once to start with mini m&m's. we weren't going to do that at school of course, but that's the only suggestion i've ever heard when it comes to "teaching" a child to swallow pills

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Vyvanse is perfectly safe to open caps and pour on food/drink. It is the only XR stimulant with FDA approval for that.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Vyvanse is perfectly safe to open caps and pour on food/drink. It is the only XR stimulant with FDA approval for that.

I didn't know this. That's good to know!

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I didn't know this. That's good to know!

Neither did I! Thanks!

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