10 year old girl suddenly refusing medication

[Chicagomom]

My daughter has been on Vyvanse during the school week for the past 2 years. It’s been incredibly helpful for her to focus in school on activities. There have been times she has not taken it, without fail I will get contacted by teachers, coaches, etc, asking what is wrong, something is off, etc. so it makes a difference.

She’s been on Vyvanse as she has some sensory issues and all the other meds we tried (there were many) did not work for her. Suddenly over the past week she’s said she can’t take the medication, it doesn’t taste good. She normally mixes it in with strawberry yogurt but I took her to the grocery and gave her carte blanche to get whatever she wants to mix it with. We came home with $50 worth of different options. She’s just refusing now all together.

I sent her to school without it and already 2 hours in I am getting complaints: What can I do?

[Aloysia]

You could try the Daytrana patch (methylphenidate). It is not the same base medication as Vyvanse. However, it might be worth a try since she wouldn't have to swallow anything. Call or email her Dr to find out if she could try it.

[Aloysia in reply to Aloysia]

The other option is to work on her ability to swallow pills. My daughter struggled with that for many years. There is a video online that maybe someone will be able to provide the link for (I can't remember it right now) - where you practice everyday with mini-M&Ms by swallowing in 4 specific ways to find out which one works best for you. Then you move to tic tacs, etc.

Also you can purchase unfilled capsules online via Amazon. The smallest ones are close to tic tac size. I used to open a larger capsule from the pharmacy and put it into 2 tiny capsules. Which my kid was eventually able to swallow. We did a lot of rewards for practicing pill swallowing every day. Because this is a life skill.

Once successful with the smallest capsules, then move to the next size, etc.

For pill swallowing practice, I filled the capsules with sugar so they would be weighted correctly. But you could use baking soda or something else.

[Frequency16]

Sounds so much like my daughter who turns 10 in April. She also doesn’t swallow pills yet. We started with sprinkling capsules on food when she was 7 and that got refused and she started having even more food aversions over it so we switched to the Daytrana patch for over a year and it was pretty great actually and there is a generic version now too. The drawbacks in my mind were (1) you have to remember to remove the patch at least 3-4 hours before bed and with her schedule she could be at sports/activities and it got complicated, (2) supply issues! We experienced so many stressful out of stocks by the manufacturer etc etc and it was ultimately just not available often enough to be reliable so we’d go back to sprinkling capsules on food. I hope that has changed. It could be a great option for you! We started my daughter on liquid Quillivant about one year ago and so far that has been the best fit. She doesn’t love the flavor but it’s such a small amount. But enough to be life changing in terms of self regulation and impulse control and executive functioning. My final suggestion is that I talk to my daughter a lot about the importance of taking it. And so does her psychiatrist. Best of luck to you in finding the right med for her, I know it’s so hard.

[Elijah1]

Several options - in addition to a methyphenidate patch, there is now an amphetamine patch that can be tried. Secondly, her behavior suggests that she may have an element of anxiety. Address the anxiety and medication use will be easier.

[Chicagomom]

Thank you, these are all really good ideas. I’ll look into the patch and address anxiety with her therapist.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Chicagomom]

Could you ask her doctor about Wellbutrin? This has been working for our son and it is not a controlled medication so we get it mailed to our house. Our son's child psychiatrist recommended it. Let her know it would be a good idea to try something that taste different. Then make sure she squirts one of those flavoring in water. It help to fill her mouth then drop the pill in and swallow at the same time so she doesn't taste the medication.

Just a though.

[Mamamichl]

my partner says he started the generic ones recently and they come in capsules, so no taste. Perhaps that’s an option?