Administering prevacid tip

biblionerd

Just in case anyone has as difficult time as I did figuring out how to give the darn medicine to a grumpy baby... I was researching and it seems most compounds are compounded incorrectly. Ours was compounded incorrectly but also sodium bicarb based (which is fine), but the pharmD told us to give it in an ounce of formula! This obviously is not right for a PPI. So we tried just squirting the compound in. That resulted in salty vomit everywhere. Next I requested the solutabs and tried syringing those in with water. This resulted in a delicious smelling strawberry drool/liquid/running back out his mouth, spit up, and in my face. Then I just tried holding it in my fingers to let him suck which was even more of a mess. I tried holding it inside his cheek, but short of a baby straight jacket and full restraints I couldn't keep a hold of it until it was all dissolved and he choked and gagged on part of an undissolved pill.

So tonight I put the pill on my fingertip and added a few drops of water. It turned mushy, but stayed formed. I just stuck my finger in and smeared the paste on the back of his cheek. It was perfect. He looked like nothing happened. He drooled a little bit but did not spit or vomit it back out. It was by far the cleanest way lol!

FrumiousBandersnatch

PharmD here.  The best way is to place the dry solutab in an oral syringe, pull into it 4 mL of distilled/purified water (not milk/formula), and VERY slowly squirt it between the gum and cheek.  It takes a while.  I haven't heard of making the paste.  The syringe method is approved and studied so I stuck with it.  After a couple of days, he got the hang of it and really enjoys it now.  My only concern with the paste would be if someone made it too thick and the baby choked.  Plus, the studies on the absorption of the drug are based on it being fully dissolved.  Maybe give the syringe another chance?  

coachg

Our pharmacy compounded it and added grape flavor. He drinks it right up!

kirbyjr06

I don't see a problem with OP solution.  I use the Solutab and our pharmacists and pedi said we could use the syringe method or stick in the side of their cheek and it will dissolve.  We tried for 3 weeks to do the syringe method and she just would not swallow and it all came back out!

I have also talked to several friends that just put in the cheek and gave a bottle. There babies did fine and the meds worked for them!!

biblionerd

jillbennettrx:

The syringe method is approved and studied so I stuck with it.

Yes, so is dissolving them orally. They are solutabs that are designed to be dissolved by holding them in the mouth. I know the syringe method is also studied, but there is no difference between putting the tab in the child's mouth or dissolving it in water and squirting it in. It is really not possible for the paste to be made too thickly. The tablet is so small and they are already dissolving as soon as they hit their mouth.

ETA: As a PharmD, your post is a little misleading. The syringe method is not the only approved way of administering it, nor is it the only studied way. The medicine is also not "fully dissolved" as it breaks into granules which are what makes it delayed release. So it's not like dissolving it in water does anything different than dissolving it with spit, hence the solutab. 

FrumiousBandersnatch

Coming up with your own way to administer medication isn't the best idea with infants.  How do you know the baby won't try to swallow the tablet before it is completely dissolved?  Sounds risky to me.

kirbyjr06

jillbennettrx:

Coming up with your own way to administer medication isn't the best idea with infants.  How do you know the baby won't try to swallow the tablet before it is completely dissolved?  Sounds risky to me.

 

My doctor told me I could stick it in her cheek and let it dissolve (as well as nearly all my friends - not saying I do everything my friends do, but experienced moms do carry weight).  The Prevacid Solutab dissolve VERY easily, I doubt a child would be able to swallow it before it dissolves.   

biblionerd

jillbennettrx:

Coming up with your own way to administer medication isn't the best idea with infants.  How do you know the baby won't try to swallow the tablet before it is completely dissolved?  Sounds risky to me.

Like I said... the tablet is dissolved on my finger. Less dissolved that the syringe method (which might I add I also find risky when syringing water into an infants mouth), but slightly more dissolved than the standard approved dissolve in mouth method. I'm confused what you think is risky about that... My pedi also suggested holding the tablet in the cheek as an approved method of delivery.