Anyone else's child on "metabolic cocktail"?

[Anonymous]

Our child has just been prescribed this. We were offered either capsules that could be opened and sprinkled on her food or liquid. Either has to be take 3x a day. I'm wondering how others have managed this.

It seems that both taste terrible. We couldn't get her to down stuff sprinkled on her food, so we've switched to the liquid. Even combined with a smoothie or shake, we're having problems with that.

Anyone having success?

[Anonymous]

pharmaceutical? Herbal? What are you talking about here?

[Anonymous]

The metabolic cocktail is a specific combination of vitamins prescribed for children with metabolic (genetic) disorders. If you're child doesn't have a metabolic disorder you've probably never heard the term.

[Anonymous]

My child doesn't have a metabolic disorder (although he saw a metabolic dr. to rule it out). At some point he has been on lots of meds. And some are really ghastly. What about getting a liquid variety and putting in a syringe and putting in in your child's mouth. For the really bad stuff, we follow that up with water then some chocolate or some other treat. But I have to say he was been taking meds since 18 months and is pretty easy going about it. If he weren't then it would be much harder.

[Anonymous]

Can she have chocolate? For some really foul long term meds we've found that most effective, it helps to coat the taste buds. So a few chocolate chips (dark and dairy free in our case), then the med in a syringe as far back as possible to get it all in and over with, then some more chocolate.

[Anonymous]

We also mix with chocolate milk (really choclatey made with Hershey's syrup) or do a Hershey's "shot" with the med in it. I'm not sure if it's ok for those particular meds, though, so you should check for restrictions.

[Anonymous]

My child doesn't take a metabolic cocktail but he does have to take medication and he's got food/sensory issues which makes getting him to take it very difficult. We tried applesauce, yougurt, liquid, syringes, etc. They never worked out. We finally taught him to swallow pills by practicing with Nerds - you know the sour candy thingys? They come in varying sizes and we started out teaching him to swallow the smallest ones and then moved up to the larger size ones. Now, he'll swallow anything, especially when we let him wash it down with Sprite or Koolaid afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Hello,

My child has a metabolic disorder and was prescribes "essential amino acids" to make up for the nutrients she cannot derive from food. I was told to sprinkle it in her foods or mix in her drinks twice a day. I dont have to much of a problem if she isn't aware that i am doing it. In addition a do a small amount at a time throughout the day to minimize the bad taste.

DC was also prescribed Buphenyl which is a horrible drug that no matter how much I try she still gags or vomits. The drug manufacturer is trying to come up with a better tasting formula but as of yet even cherry syrup doesn't mask the taste.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your tips -- we tried a variety of substances to hide the flavor. Unfortunately she hates chocolate (doesn't get this from me!). We are teaching her to swallow the pills and she has been able to do it twice. Yay!