How to flavor liquid medicine (1938)
Key points below
What is flavoring a liquid medicine?
Adding flavoring to a liquid medicine to make it taste better. Do not add flavoring into the medicine bottle. It must be added to each dose just before it is given. Be sure to ask your pharmacist if flavoring can be used with each medicine.Why is it needed?
Medicine is hard to take if it doesn’t taste good.What are the steps?
1. Prepare a clean workspace.
2. Wash your hands.
3. Get your supplies.
- Oral syringe
- Liquid medicine
- Flavored liquid (milk, juice, strawberry, or chocolate syrup)
- Snow cone syrup.
4. Draw up the correct amount of medicine from the medicine bottle.
5. Pour a small amount of flavored liquid into a clean glass or medicine cup. Put the tip of the syringe into the flavoring. Pull back on the plunger. This pulls flavoring up into the syringe.
6. Give the flavored medicine to the patient by mouth right away.
7. Wash the syringe with warm water after each use.
Basic tips for liquid and pills
- Have your child hold their nose closed.
- Let your child choose a drink they like. Give it after the medicine is taken.
- Give something cold before the medicine, like a Popsicle or ice cubes. This numbs the taste buds.
- Choose a flavor that goes well with the medicine. Salty medicines go well with chocolate syrup. Sweet medicines go well with something sweet like strawberry syrup. Your child can take a sip of chocolate syrup before they take the medicine and then take another sip after the medicine.
Tips for liquid medicines
- Use a syringe to measure and give the medicine.
- Give it in the back or side of the mouth to avoid the tongue.
- Mix the medicine with a strong flavor. Remember that if the medicine is mixed with food or flavoring, you need to give it right away.
- Give a spoonful of peanut butter or maple syrup to coat the tongue before giving the medicine.