Need Strategy to help my son drink his med - Sertraline (Zoloft)
 

Or son is currently drinking the Sertraline in Sunny-D. His anxiety about this is making it difficult because he walks around with it and the medicine settles and then he doesn't want to drink the bottom of the cup because it "tastes bad". Then we get upset and he experiences more anxiety.

Has anyone figured out a way to overcome their kids resistance to drink this stuff? Ken

Tricks of the Trade.... Sprinkles and pills
 

The pills are quite tiny, and our pediatric family member simply swallowed it. A trick for learning to swallow pills was starting with the tiny candies you put on cakes.

Anyway, before that, the child used to take antihistamine sprinkles. Mixed in with a favorite flavor yogurt or pudding helps because it is a small quantity and it is thick and creamy. No taste. No separation. One or two spoonfuls and the child was done, and wanting more! But don't give more - it is a part of taking the med! ;-)

Many pharmacies today have flavor changing technologies.

They can change a flavor of any RX medication.

Get the liquid Zoloft and request a flavor change. You probably won't need to mix it. It would be best to give it, and follow with a chaser.

Many flavors can be masked on the tongue with fat. So a few
doses of ice cream, or pudding, then the drug, then more fat, can make it go down easier too.

Swallowing a pill is the best way, as Jaspar suggested. Many people practice with tiny M &Ms. There is also a dosing straw to help.
http://www.brucemedical.com/mepiswsy.html

Thanks to all.

It's still a bit of a process, but we got him taking the pills. We tried baby M&M's and cake sprinkles. It was all good. I learned a lot about patience. Seriously. I'm not a very patient person under normal conditions. But, I'm learning.

This med is making a huge difference in him. He's really becoming expressive in ways that are outward, social and even fun. Ken

Zoloft
 

I am so glad the Zoloft is helping your son. Just keep up on the possible side effects and keep watch in case he starts to have any issues. I have been on Zoloft before and it is a drug you have to watch. I was taken off of it. Also, from my experience, these types of drugs often have to be changed.