Our daughter is having a fever and is refusing to take her medicine. So, last night, I pulled a parenting-mcgyver and created a medicine-ice-lollipop. I am happy to report that it totally worked!
Next time I’ll add some natural food coloring to make it more look like an actual lollipop. In case you’re wondering what I used for the mold, it’s a Nespresso capsule. Is there such a thing as a lollipop mold? (Must ask Google…)
UPDATE: Lollipop molds exist! YES!
how ingenius!!! thanks for the tip!
Dec 19th, 2011 / 1:30 pm
I would be careful with altering medicines and drugs in any way to be honest. Remember that it’s made of chemical molecules which change shape and therefore the way they work depending on temperature/ state/ interactions with other molecules. ( I have a degree in science and will be a doctor in 3 years).
Dec 19th, 2011 / 1:57 pm
I’d be a bit cautious with the chemicals as well. But for regular pops you can almost always find a mold at the dollar store or any other large chain around summer.
Dec 19th, 2011 / 2:00 pm
Yep. Just coming here to comment that you should ALWAYS seek the advice of your pharmacist before mixing medicines with anything or freezing, refrigerating, etc.
Dec 19th, 2011 / 2:15 pm
tina, that’s genius.
Dec 19th, 2011 / 2:34 pm
Big pharmaceutical companies should already integrate this sort of shapes into their production processes. Last year our daughter had a long infection and it was a terrible experience to run after her to make her drink her antibiotics !!
Dec 19th, 2011 / 3:12 pm
Now we all know you like the Decafe.. :o))
Dec 19th, 2011 / 4:24 pm
@Jesse: Nope, that’s the one I don’t like. I didn’t have any used capsules and had to sacrifice one! :)
Dec 19th, 2011 / 4:29 pm
Freezing can affect the physical properties of the dosage form, but it most cases this is not going to affect the way the medicine works.
It is best to ask your pharmacist first though, just in case.
(I am a pharmacist).
Dec 19th, 2011 / 4:55 pm
Tina, you continue to amaze me! And THANKS for the amazing and creative tip!
yay!
Dec 20th, 2011 / 10:47 am
To be certain you’re not decreasing the med’s effectiveness, you’re
better off asking a compounding pharmacist what they can do to improve matters. I’m one…sometimes the only way to improve the flavor is to use a completely different form of the medicine (eg: using flavorless metronidazole benzoate versus ghastly bitter metronidazole [Flagyl]). A compounding pharmacist has access to information on drug stability, special flavoring options (sweetness enhancers, bitter blockers), and experience that the average person does not, and their services are often covered by prescription insurance. Find one at http://www.iacprx.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lookup_survey
Still…most meds will put up with a lot, as long as you don’t do it too long. You could try mixing the med with chocolate syrup (helps cover bitter flavors), or chocolate ice cream (cold numbs tastebuds), IMMEDIATELY before the child consumes it. Taste test your concoctions by touching a drop to your tongue (check with your pharmacist to make sure that’s safe for you–I wouldn’t do that with many anticancer meds, for instance).
For liquids, there’s one more option if the kid will cooperate: get a syringe (with no needle; they make oral syringes), get the dose inside the syringe (if any gets on the outside, wash it off), let the child lay the syringe on their tongue, as far back as they can without being uncomfortable…and let them shoot the med PAST their tongue and taste buds, and swallow. Immediately follow with yummy chaser (chocolate ice cream, pudding, etc.) to “wash” it down.
Dec 20th, 2011 / 11:10 am
This is not a safe way to dispense medication without explicit approval from the doctor or pharmacist that a particular medication will tolerate freezing. For example: Amoxycillin is a very common pediatric antibiotic that should not be allowed to freeze.
Dec 20th, 2011 / 11:12 am
Nice idea! Don’t know if it’s safe or not, but I was wondering..did you say your daughter it was still her medicine?
Dec 20th, 2011 / 12:10 pm
Brilliant. Even as a placebo it will help. I’am sure!
Dec 20th, 2011 / 2:33 pm
Ok – beside all bad press nespresso get’s these days, there is at least one good reason for me to keep using (und buying) those capsules
Dec 21st, 2011 / 12:37 am
For any parent that struggles and struggles and fails! trying to administer medicine to a child – I wonder – what’s worse? Altering the medicine or not being able to give your child any medicine at all? I guess it’s best we leave that to the parents and their good judgment, huh?
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 12:06 am
oh! that’s a great idea!
I curate a blog about creative food aesthetics http://eaaaaat.tumblr.com/ maybe you like it :)
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 8:59 am
I thought that was an interesting idea, but all these comments about the safety worried me. I didn’t like taking medicine as a child either, but you know what my dad did? Sat me down, held my nose and made me swallow along with a nice giant glass of water to follow. Tough love but not really. As a young adult I still think a shot of vodka is worse but we do it anyway lol.
Dec 23rd, 2011 / 2:31 pm
Do you know that aluminium is the best neurotoxic ever…
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Oct 13th, 2013 / 11:27 pm