It's drain cleaner!!

[SongsOfDragons]

So I'm having...uhh...issues with the nether plumbing. I've been given some medicine called Lactulose. Haven't had to take liquid medicine for quite some time, reminds me of younger times. :D

This stuff comes in a bottle that emulates those that drain cleaner comes in!! You know, rigid plastic with a built-in handle. It's sweet but it tastes like burnt yoghurt...I guess that's the milk sugar in it...and it's so thick it makes me gag! XP

I'm glad the stuff is only icky to take though, it seems to be making things more comfortable and otherwise doesn't have any nasty side effects showing. So that's good. :) And I'm sure burnt yoghurt drain cleaner isn't the nastiest-to-take oral medicine out there, so I guess I'm lucky in that aspect. :o

Anyone else have icky medicine-taking stories? I remember a formulation aimed at kids that was flavoured with oranges, but it was too sour...too much flavouring...

[Bright_Star]

3 words. Cod Liver Oil. My mom forced us to take that when we were kids. It really "moved the mail"...lol.

[trailerparkmedic]

I've had to give many patients nasty medications. Usually they're lucky and it's a few tablespoons, so I tell them to take it like a shot of alcohol and I have some water to chase it with. One guy had to take a LOT of stuff (like half a cup?) that smelled like rotten eggs and tasted worse. We mixed it with grape juice but he still grimaced the whole time.

[kpzra]

As a kid, bubble gum flavored amoxicillin. I had to take that stuff so much they actually used me as a test subject for new flavors.

[dragon_wings]

bubble gum flavored amoxicillin

I totally didn't mind that stuff. I was actually really sad when I had to start swallowing amoxicillin.

[SongsOfDragons]

I remember having a banana-flavoured medicine for when I was sick. Rather thin and pale yellow. I've no idea what drug it was...

[suburbandecay]

Once when I was a child (nine maybe?), my brother and I were suffering from yet another bout of strep throat and complaining about the "grape flavored" medicine we had to take. My dad got sick of us complaining about the taste of it and said "It can't be that bad". With that, he stuck his thumb over the top of the bottle turned it over and then licked his thumb to taste it. The face he made was priceless. His comment was something along the lines of "That tastes like shit". He then proceeded to tell us we could have a can of pop to wash it down with and left the room.

[Sparky]

When I was a child, all medicines for children, if they were flavored at all, were cherry flavored. Because ALL children just LOVE cherry!

Except me. Can't stand the stuff. :(

[daleduke17]

There's one medicine I cannot stand, just because of the smell:

Kaflex (or however it is spelled). That stuff REEKS. It is used for certain kinds of infections (kidney or urinary tract IIRC).

On the flipside, I will concur with Amoxicillin. That stuff was awesome. My daughter had to take it once and whenever my wife or I said "time for medicine" our daughter would run in and want to chug it. :p

[kpzra]

It may be that I had several types of flavor, since I was on it for almost a year straight. I remember testing them and having to tell my mom which I likes most. The smell still turns my stomach.:puke:

[Pagan]

The smell of promethazine syrup makes me gag. Probably because it literally bounces on my stomach.

I've never taken it, but I can't stand the smell of tussionex. And it looks like orange juice that's gone way off.

[AccountingDrone]

Back in the 60s there were still a fair number of meds that had liquorice as part of the flavoring because it 'is sweet and covers the bitter flavor of medication' <insert vomit smiley> I absolutely detest the flavor, and even if something has a little bit of the flavor like anise, celery leaf, angelica it is nauseating to me. I also overdosed on St Joseph's raspberry flavored baby aspirin, so I detest raspberry flavored anything.

Never liked gum, so I don't like bubblegum flavoring, and the nasty nasty fluoride tray tooth treatment was sheer torture until my dentist got grape and cherry flavors in.

I learned to swallow pills *very* young [about 6 years old] to avoid the nasty kids liquid meds. I could swallow 8-10 pills of assorted sizes at a single time by the time I was 10. I spent a fair amount of hospital time, I got pneumonia every winter and was active and tended to break bones doing stupid shit like falling out of trees =)

[ralerin]

Prednisone.

HATE. How nasty, bitter and awful. And if you so much get as a little bit of the outer coating of the pill on your tongue, it clings. Had to chug several glasseso f water to get the edge off. Dear Lord.

I heard people say that tramadol was nasty, but it was a breeze compared to prednisone.

I'm one of those weird people that don't mind the taste of "Nobittussin" too much. I used to lick the bottom of the dosage cup. I don't ever really recall taking any medicines I hated as a kid. Except for prednisone last year and this year. Oh *shudder*

[Kiwi]

3 words. Cod Liver Oil. My mom forced us to take that when we were kids. It really "moved the mail"...lol.

hahaha :D I have such a 10 year old sense of humor

[Dasota]

My mom had to take Lactulose. She had a designated shot glass for it. Horrid stuff she said.

Kid meds are the reason why I can't stand ANYTHING that is "grape" flavored. Like grapes and grape juice, but grape drink, grape candy, grape "foods" are the grossest things ever to me. And Cherry flavor is nothing like cherry. I was sad that by the time they brought out the orange flavored stuff I was just getting to be too old for kid medicine.

And Amoxicillian bubble gum flavor stuff was the greatest ever! <_< >_> I think this stuff is the greatest reason why meds should be kid proof. Like someone else said before, I would want to just drink it out of the bottle for no reason

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

There used to be some kind of medicine I used to take as kid, I forget what it was called, but it had kind of a fruity flavor I couldn't ever pin down.

Then I drank a Red Bull. Tasted exactly like that kind of medicine.

There also used to be some kind of pill my parents would give me for hyperactivity. Again I don't know what it was called, but it was bitter and awful. I couldn't take it with water. My parents had to crush the pill and mix it with applesauce or ice cream, but I could still taste it. >.<

[Andara Bledin]

Like someone else said before, I would want to just drink it out of the bottle for no reason
I used to want to do that with cherry flavored Sucrets (http://www.sucrets.com/products).

^-.-^

[RealUnimportant]

I remember having a banana-flavoured medicine for when I was sick. Rather thin and pale yellow. I've no idea what drug it was...
That's the UK version of Amoxicillin IIRC.

[Spork4pedro]

When I was pregnant, whatever drink I had to take when I went in for my blood tests (I believe it was to check diabetes?) came in 3 flavors. Orange, Fruit Punch, and apparently Vomit. I unfortunately got the last flavor the first try around and couldn't keep it in my mouth. Blech! (I'm gagging a bit just thinking about it! *shudder*) Not sure what the flavor was suppose to be but they just gave me fruit punch which went down fine.

[dalesys]

...came in 3 flavors. Orange, Fruit Punch, and apparently Vomit.
The trade name for that flavor is Komenbakatcha.:p

[Gaki]

Whatever I was given before my root canal because I have a heart condition. It didn't taste all that bad but it smelled so disgusting that whenever I opened the bottle it was all I could do not to gag. Same with penicillin actually, the nastiest freaking smell ever. I'm also not very fond of those things you put in water and they fizz. I forget what they are but I used to only be able to take them in a can of lemon flavored Pepsi because the terrible taste of the Pepsi was better than the taste of them.

My favorite two medications are Delsym (dextromethorphan polistirex) and the red NyQuil. I used to have to take Delsym CONSTANTLY when I was a kid because of the coughing the pollution in the city I lived in would induce. As soon as we moved away from the city, my coughing stopped and now I only take it for sick coughing. It tastes so good I miss it.

[fireheart]

There's a chocolate flavoured liquid laxative down here called Parachoc.

I remember there being a banana-flavoured medication out there. I'll see if I can find the brand name (if I have time off in the morning)

[SongsOfDragons]

That's the UK version of Amoxicillin IIRC.

I thought it was something along those lines, judging what others have said.

Another vote for 'cherry' medicine tasting like ick.

I found a way to take my drain cleaner!! ...I hold my nose and I chug it like a shot... then grope for the glass of water afterwards...

[retailsweetie]

When my sister and I got sick as children, we were given some kind of liquid medicine that had crushed up aspirin in it. I don't know what exactly it was (we're both allergic to amoxicillin so I know it wasn't that) but I've had face wash that smelled similar to it. We hated it. We called it "sandy medicine" because it felt like we were drinking sand.

Personally, I can't stand Delsym, but liquid Benadryl (the pink one) is a nostalgic taste for me so I'll willingly do that.

[LadyAndreca]

When I was a kid, I longed to be able to take my siblings' bubble-gum-flavored medicines! I was allergic, so I had to take arithromyacin, which tasted awful compared to it. Given that I'm a carrier for strep (Mom would haul ME to the doctor if any of my siblings were showing symptoms), I had it so often that I begged my parents to let me have the giant pills instead when I was 12 or so.

I can't stand orange alka-seltzer. Dunno why.

[klhanson]

When I was pregnant, whatever drink I had to take when I went in for my blood tests (I believe it was to check diabetes?) came in 3 flavors. Orange, Fruit Punch, and apparently Vomit. I unfortunately got the last flavor the first try around and couldn't keep it in my mouth. Blech! (I'm gagging a bit just thinking about it! *shudder*) Not sure what the flavor was suppose to be but they just gave me fruit punch which went down fine.



I think it was supposed to be cola flavored.. i had a choice and picked orange since i was told it was the least worst of the 3

[Andara Bledin]

When my sister and I got sick as children, we were given some kind of liquid medicine that had crushed up aspirin in it.
Ew. Aspirin tastes fairly foul all by itself. I would hate to thing of trying to swallow anything with crushed aspirin in it. *shudder*

I even have trouble with coated aspirin. Most likely because there's at least one tablet that's broken inside the bottle, so there's just a little bit of aspirin powder on all of the other pills.

^-.-^

[kpzra]

I think it was supposed to be cola flavored.. i had a choice and picked orange since i was told it was the least worst of the 3

My doctors office only had the orange, but I had no problems with it, it was like drinking thickish Koolaide to me. They did say some women just can't keep it down though. I did forget I had that appointment that day though and ate some toast when I got home from work an few hours before, so it kinda screwed the results up.

[Primer]

Many many years ago the ex brought home Chlamidia. I don't remember the med I got for it, but it it was NASTY.

This summer, my mom had to take Bactrim, and she swears it's the worst stuff she's ever had to take.

[Luna Baby]

My oldest son would refuse to his best ability to take any liquid meds when he was little. He said it would "make his chin quiver." That was the feeling he would get just prior to the meds coming back up. He was also a quick learner when he found out he could take most meds in pill form. Little guy? He loves any med if he thinks it'll get him some attention!

[BlaqueKatt]

As a kid, bubble gum flavored amoxicillin.

when I worked in a research facility supplier, we had a kitten that loved that stuff(she had a bad upper respiratory infection), when it was time for her dose she would get all excited and them refuse to let go of the dosing syringe-weird.

[Pagan]

I used to want to do that with cherry flavored Sucrets (http://www.sucrets.com/products).

^-.-^

I loved those! Then they changed the formulation. :(

The Wally World version of Nyquil smells and tastes like black licorice!

[ArcticChicken]

I heard people say that tramadol was nasty, but it was a breeze compared to prednisone.

Prednisone is the reason that whenever I have to take a pill I first take a mouthful of water, then toss the pill in and swallow the whole thing.

Then I drank a Red Bull. Tasted exactly like that kind of medicine.

I thought that stuff tasted familiar.

[Sapphire Silk]

Kaflex (or however it is spelled). That stuff REEKS. It is used for certain kinds of infections (kidney or urinary tract IIRC).

Keflex. Yeah, it does smell. Pen VK has a worse smell though IMHO.

Prednisone.

HATE. How nasty, bitter and awful. And if you so much get as a little bit of the outer coating of the pill on your tongue, it clings. Had to chug several glasseso f water to get the edge off. Dear Lord.


The syrup version for children (Prelone) is even worse. Kids usually vomit it back up immediately. I usually use a strong flavored juice like cranberry to mask the taste so they keep it down.

I didn't think tramadol was bad at all. Go figure :rolleyes:

The three worst tasting meds I can think of are:

Prelone (see above comment)

Mucomyst (given mostly for Tylenol overdoses, has some other uses). Comes in a liquid, smells and tastes like rotten eggs. I mix it with cranberry juice to mask the taste, and put a clear membrane dressing like OpSite over the top of the cup and poke a straw through so the patient doesn't have to smell it.

Activated Charcoal. This usually gets vomited up as well, usually on the nurse as well as all over the patient's front. And it does NOT come out in the wash. I've lost more scrub sets that way. :rant:

[Food Lady]

I hated grape Dimetapp. But I have no aversion to grape juice because it resembles the medicine in no way. I, too, learned to swallow pills at a young age. Mom and I even got the doctor to write a script for cough syrup in pill form once.

[MoonCat]

When I was a kid my mother gave me mineral oil. To this day, if I think about how it tasted and what it felt like in my mouth, I will vomit. If ever I should need to throw up, all I'll need to do is think about that hellish stuff.

Also - I had a kitty who had to take lactulose. Sticky stuff, he hated it. Then the vet switched him to Miralax, which you mix in water. He not only didn't mind it, he actually enjoyed getting it squirted into his mouth, and he never had the "problem" again.

[NotAlBundy]

I hated grape Dimetapp. But I have no aversion to grape juice because it resembles the medicine in no way. I, too, learned to swallow pills at a young age. Mom and I even got the doctor to write a script for cough syrup in pill form once.

I LOVED grape Dimetapp. I probably would have snuck sips if my parents had kept the medicine where I could reach it.

I had issues learning how to swallow pills, and my parents would crush up any pills I had to take on a spoon and then add a little water. *shudder* It was horrible. Now I can swallow multiple pills of different sizes at the same time. Aldactone has a nice minty after taste!

[Food Lady]

Prednisone. HATE. How nasty, bitter and awful. And if you so much get as a little bit of the outer coating of the pill on your tongue, it clings. Had to chug several glasseso f water to get the edge off. Dear Lord. I heard people say that tramadol was nasty, but it was a breeze compared to prednisone. I'm one of those weird people that don't mind the taste of "Nobittussin" too much. I used to lick the bottom of the dosage cup. I don't ever really recall taking any medicines I hated as a kid. Except for prednisone last year and this year. Oh *shudder* I've been on it for 2 weeks and the bitterness only lasts about 5 seconds for me. I take it with milk, so maybe that helps. One of the nurses mentioned the flavor stays for a while, but I haven't had any issues. Weird.

[Catwoman2965]

Not so much taste, but consistency. The giant jug of nasty stuff you drink before a colonoscopy. OMG it was slippery and nasty. Someone said drink it with a straw but that only made it worse. First one I had my dr. gave me a small bottle of stuff, like 6 oz total. But apparetnly that caused kidney damage so they don't recommend or use it anymore.

I finally figured the best way to drink the huge jug o crap was to chug my 8oz glass, then chug some ginger ale to get rid of the feel and taste. I didn't even finish it; I got about 3/4 or so done and was like that's it, anymore, its coming right back up. But the dr. said my insides were nice and clean, so i guess it was enough.

Never had red bull, but I remember the pink nasty liquid. I think it was amoxicillian. BLECH. I can still recall the taste and I haven't had it in problaby 40 years!

[Dave1982]

Thankfully I haven't had a lot of experience with liquid medications. But a couple that I rememebr as particurly foul were liquid Immodium AD (not sure they even make that anymore), and pretty much any generic cough syrup.

Liquid Immodium was just pure concentrated evil....not to mention a ripoff becuase one bottle was only two freaking doses.....

Generic cough syrups....God....I can't stand them. There was one I remember taking once that tasted like gunpowder (more specifically, it tasted like the smell of whatever gunpowder /flash powder was used in cap guns). :puke:

I refuse to buy cough syrups that aren't name brand because of this. Those don't exactly taste *good* but they are at least tolerable.

[Catwoman2965]

Thankfully I haven't had a lot of experience with liquid medications. But a couple that I rememebr as particurly foul were liquid Immodium AD (not sure they even make that anymore), and pretty much any generic cough syrup.

Liquid Immodium was just pure concentrated evil....not to mention a ripoff becuase one bottle was only two freaking doses.....



Oh dear. You just reminded me of something that happend to me as a kid. Apparently I had the runs and the dr. told my mom to give me Kaopetate. Which was NASTY with a capital N. So I guess Iwas being not so cooperative and my parents had to kind of force it down, and I promptly spit it out on my dad, all over his new suit!

[Scorpodael]

I can't remember what it was, but years and years ago, my brother and I were both sick, and needed some sort of medicine. Having long since discovered that liquid medicine sucks ass, mom asked for the pill version of the medicine. The pharmacist, in all his wisdom, decided that since we were under 12, we needed the liquid version. So what did they do? They crushed the pills and put them in some sort of vaguely banana flavored suspension. It was gritty, it was NASTY. We couldn't keep it down at ALL.

... I used to actually like bananas...

[Shalom]

OK, this thread is right up my alley. I think I've got a comment on almost every post...

So I'm having...uhh...issues with the nether plumbing. I've been given some medicine called Lactulose. Haven't had to take liquid medicine for quite some time, reminds me of younger times.

Yeah, Lactulose. That was one of the only two times I had a bottle thrown at me in the pharmacy, and this time it was because the guy was happy. No, really.

Grumpy little old man comes in with a prescription for lactulose. Looked like he hadn't smiled in so long, his face had got stuck that way. I filled it for him, told him the directions (even though printed on the label), and said that he had enough in there for six days, and if he needed a refill he could get up to three more bottles.

Sure enough, six days later the guy comes boppin' into the store. Big smile on his face, eyes lit up. He comes dashing up to the counter. flings the empty bottle down so hard it bounces, and hollers, "Here, gimme another bottle of this! That's great stuff, man! And it don't even taste too bad!" Poor guy's bowels probably hadn't worked right in twenty years. He almost looked like a different person...

I also had one patient who was addicted to lactulose (http://www.customerssuck.com/board/showpost.php?p=921464&postcount=11).
One guy had to take a LOT of stuff (like half a cup?) that smelled like rotten eggs and tasted worse.

APAP overdose?

Once when I was a child (nine maybe?), my brother and I were suffering from yet another bout of strep throat and complaining about the "grape flavored" medicine we had to take. My dad got sick of us complaining about the taste of it and said "It can't be that bad". With that, he stuck his thumb over the top of the bottle turned it over and then licked his thumb to taste it. The face he made was priceless. His comment was something along the lines of "That tastes like shit". He then proceeded to tell us we could have a can of pop to wash it down with and left the room.

I used to do flavourings for liquid medications (http://flavorx.com/), to help kids get them down.

Once had a 6-year-old child who had to take Penicillin VK. No matter what flavoring I put in there, he'd run up to the door of the pharmacy, spit it out into the parking lot, and come back. Finally I tasted the stuff myself, made a horrible face (couldn't help it) and said, "You know kid, I can't blame you. I wouldn't take this stuff either." Awful, horribly bitter stuff. I eventually came up with apple/cherry/watermelon flavor (IIRC) with extra bitterness suppressor and a few drops of stevia for sweetness.

I did mention to the kid that if he wouldn't take the oral medication, we could always arrange for the doctor to give him a shot instead.:devil: He grins at me and says "OK!" :eek: Mother chimes in that he never gives them a hard time with shots. I don't know if they went that route or not, but they did walk out with the stuff.

There's one medicine I cannot stand, just because of the smell:

Kaflex (or however it is spelled). That stuff REEKS. It is used for certain kinds of infections (kidney or urinary tract IIRC).

Doesn't smell so bad once it's mixed, but the dry powder smells like someone cut a very large one under your nose. This may be why the solid dosage form is in capsules rather than tablets.

The absolute king of stink, though, is clindamycin suspension. That stuff smells like the Fresh Kills garbage transfer plant on a hot day, and that is no exaggeration.

On the flipside, I will concur with Amoxicillin. That stuff was awesome. My daughter had to take it once and whenever my wife or I said "time for medicine" our daughter would run in and want to chug it. :p

There's one manufacturer (West-Ward) who managed to screw up the taste of even that. We got so many complaints about that stuff that we had to send it back. (Later found out it's imported from Jordan, for whatever that's worth.)

Back in the 60s there were still a fair number of meds that had liquorice as part of the flavoring because it 'is sweet and covers the bitter flavor of medication' <insert vomit smiley> I absolutely detest the flavor, and even if something has a little bit of the flavor like anise, celery leaf, angelica it is nauseating to me

Not fond of it myself. My roomie in college used to drink Arrak on special occasions. There are also liquorice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nigroids.jpg)tablets available in the UK, but for some reason they can't get an import license to bring them into the USA. Wonder if the name has anything to do with that.

When I was pregnant, whatever drink I had to take when I went in for my blood tests (I believe it was to check diabetes?) came in 3 flavors. Orange, Fruit Punch, and apparently Vomit. I unfortunately got the last flavor the first try around and couldn't keep it in my mouth. Blech! (I'm gagging a bit just thinking about it! *shudder*) .

My wife is reading this over my shoulder and is like http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/images/smilies/smiles2/agree.gif

Keflex. Yeah, it does smell. Pen VK has a worse smell though IMHO.

I think most of the cephalosporins stink. Ceftriaxone in particular smells like tomcat pee. As it's usually given IV, you don't usually have to smell it, but if it went up to the floor and didn't get used, we had to waste it when it came back to pharmacy, usually meaning cutting the bag open and dumping it in the sink.

The syrup version [of prednisolone] for children (Prelone) is even worse. Kids usually vomit it back up immediately. I usually use a strong flavored juice like cranberry to mask the taste so they keep it down.

Try Orapred instead (prednisolone sodium phosphate). The esterified form doesn't have much taste to start with, and the "grape" flavoring isn't all that bad. I've found the kids like it way better.

Mucomyst (given mostly for Tylenol overdoses, has some other uses). Comes in a liquid, smells and tastes like rotten eggs.

I think that's what trailerparkmedic was talking about. The stuff was intended to be inhaled by nebulizer for CF, so it's unflavored. For APAP overdose it's given orally. It's not pleasant, but dying slowly of liver failure is worse.

I hated grape Dimetapp. But I have no aversion to grape juice because it resembles the medicine in no way.

Depends what kind of grape you're talking about. Scuppernongs (and to an extent, Concord grapes) do indeed taste like that.

When I was a kid my mother gave me mineral oil. To this day, if I think about how it tasted and what it felt like in my mouth, I will vomit. If ever I should need to throw up, all I'll need to do is think about that hellish stuff.

Been there, done that. Taken plain, it never got more than halfway down my gullet before :puke:. I used to layer it over chocolate milk, and drink it with a straw, rapidly moving it up and down so I got bits of both.

Years later I found that you could also get it in prefilled, disposable enemas (and it even works better that way to boot). I was so pissed off: why hadn't anyone mentioned this to me when I was a kid? So much more pleasant to use it that way. (And I'm not kidding: if you think getting oil squirted up your @$$ is unpleasant, take it from me, by mouth is worse.)

Not so much taste, but consistency. The giant jug of nasty stuff you drink before a colonoscopy.

Oh yes. One popular brand is Golytely; I always thought Go-Heavily would have been a more apropos name... :D

I finally figured the best way to drink the huge jug o crap was to chug my 8oz glass, then chug some ginger ale to get rid of the feel and taste. I didn't even finish it; I got about 3/4 or so done and was like that's it, anymore, its coming right back up. But the dr. said my insides were nice and clean, so i guess it was enough.

It was. I always inform my patients that they only need to take it until there's no more solid material left in their stool. Once you get to the point where what comes out looks the same as it went in, you're done. Usually takes 2/3 to 3/4 of the bottle. Doctors don't always tell them this; I've had patients say things like "You mean I don't have to drink the whole damn thing? Thank God!"

The stuff they have nowadays has flavor-paks with it, and also they've deleted the sulfate salts in some versions, so it's marginally less nasty than it was. Refrigerating it helps too.

Oh dear. You just reminded me of something that happend to me as a kid. Apparently I had the runs and the dr. told my mom to give me Kaopetate. Which was NASTY with a capital N.

Depending on how long ago that was, there were three different versions. The original version was kaolin and pectin (hence the name), +/- opium (which was OTC back then in limited doses). Then they switched to attapulgite, which was in fact a kind of clay (!) and tasted exactly the way you'd expect it to. The stuff they sell now is just differently-colored Pepto-Dismal.

I can't remember what it was, but years and years ago, my brother and I were both sick, and needed some sort of medicine. Having long since discovered that liquid medicine sucks ass, mom asked for the pill version of the medicine. The pharmacist, in all his wisdom, decided that since we were under 12, we needed the liquid version. So what did they do? They crushed the pills and put them in some sort of vaguely banana flavored suspension. It was gritty, it was NASTY. We couldn't keep it down at ALL..

They didn't do it right then. When you make a suspension out of tablets, you first crush and refine the tablets into powder (which shouldn't be gritty if it's ground fine enough), then you suspend it with this (http://www.amazon.com/Ora-Plus-Oral-Suspending-Vehicle-Paddock/dp/B000GGHSQM), blend it in well, then add that (http://www.amazon.com/ORA-SWEET-SYRUP-PADDOCK-Size/dp/B000GGG0AC), and flavor it (http://flavorx.com/). Done correctly, it's better than no worse than any commercially prepared suspension.

Not to mention, why'd he make a suspension if a solid dosage form was specifically asked for?

Incidentally, for those of you in the USA, most chain phamacies (Chain of Verylarge Stores, Aide of Right, Green Wall etc.) and many independents can flavor things for you. Check out the "Wheel Of Yuck" (http://flavorx.com/products/pediatric-medication-flavoring/wheel-of-yuck/) for a comparison of which oral meds taste worst, and which flavors are best with them.

[trailerparkmedic]

APAP overdose?

Yup. One of the hospitals I did clinicals at would only give Mucomyst PO. I'm really hoping my current hospital does it IV. I'm sure I'll learn about that fairly quickly once I hit nights. ;)

[Sapphire Silk]

Yup. One of the hospitals I did clinicals at would only give Mucomyst PO. I'm really hoping my current hospital does it IV. I'm sure I'll learn about that fairly quickly once I hit nights. ;)

The trick with Mucomyst PO is to mix it with something strongly flavored. Cola works. I prefer cranberry juice. Cover the cup with OpSite and poke a straw through so they don't smell it.

Does a pretty good job of helping patients tolerate the medication.

Be very, very careful with IV Mucomyst. I've never worked with it, but I've heard the dosing and administration is tricky. There have been some deaths. If you don't have a preceptor that's familiar with it, consult with a pharmacist about how to set the drip up properly.

[radiocerk]

I learned to swallow pills at the tender age of six. As a kid, I was anemic. I don't think there is a single thing more disgusting than the taste of liquid iron.

[fireheart]

I've got a new one for the worst tasting medication out there, even though it's not meant to be swallowed.

Betadine throat gargle.

When I tried it to help with a really bad case of laryngitis, I pretty much spat it out and relied on the difflam spray instead :lol:.

And now I remember the banana tasting medicine....Tixylix I think. Disgusting stuff.

At least the hydrolyte comes in two flavours :lol:

[Mytical]

At one time I thought Castor Oil, and cod liver oil were the worst medicines in the world. Nasty nasty stuff, made by evil people who wanted children to suffer. THEN I had Contrast. I do not know what sewer water taste like..but if you took it to the desert..let it sit for days out in the sun to 'ripen'..it would probably STILL taste better then that junk. I swear the second dose actually tasted worse then the first.

[SongsOfDragons]

I love how that Wheel of Yuck declares Lactulose to be rated 'Yuckiest'. ^^

[wolfie]

Oh dear. You just reminded me of something that happend to me as a kid. Apparently I had the runs and the dr. told my mom to give me Kaopetate. Which was NASTY with a capital N. So I guess Iwas being not so cooperative and my parents had to kind of force it down, and I promptly spit it out on my dad, all over his new suit!

Depending on how long ago that was, there were three different versions. The original version was kaolin and pectin (hence the name), +/- opium (which was OTC back then in limited doses). Then they switched to attapulgite, which was in fact a kind of clay (!) and tasted exactly the way you'd expect it to. The stuff they sell now is just differently-colored Pepto-Dismal.

Actually, kaolin is a kind of clay as well. If the liquid kaopectate is too nasty, you might want to try Dr. Fowler's tablets (they use atapulgate - Dr. Fowler's also makea an atapulgate suspension, and their original extract of wild strawberry). Kaopectate doesn't make tablets any more, and I went looking for an alternative tablet.

BTW, Pepto Dismal uses (or at least used last time I checked the label) Pepsin and Bismuth Salicylate, hence the name.

[Ellain]

Tip for the nasty colonoscopy prep:
Mix according to directions. Pour yourself half a glass, and fill the rest of the glass with sprite or ginger ale. Goes down a lot easier, and doesn't cause any problems with the testing.

[Catwoman2965]

Quote:
Quoth Catwoman2965
Oh dear. You just reminded me of something that happend to me as a kid. Apparently I had the runs and the dr. told my mom to give me Kaopetate. Which was NASTY with a capital N.

Depending on how long ago that was, there were three different versions. The original version was kaolin and pectin (hence the name), +/- opium (which was OTC back then in limited doses). Then they switched to attapulgite, which was in fact a kind of clay (!) and tasted exactly the way you'd expect it to. The stuff they sell now is just differently-colored Pepto-Dismal.

This was probably about 1970-71. I was probably about 5 or 6. BLECH. it was foul. thankfully I don't get sick all that often, including the runs. I'll get them, but not for very long and I just let it go and then I'm fine; no need for any meds.

[Mikkel]

It was. I always inform my patients that they only need to take it until there's no more solid material left in their stool. Once you get to the point where what comes out looks the same as it went in, you're done. Usually takes 2/3 to 3/4 of the bottle. Doctors don't always tell them this; I've had patients say things like "You mean I don't have to drink the whole damn thing? Thank God!"

Damn, I wish I had been told. I drank all two litres :eek:. Some of it I even drank twice, closing my mouth when it came up and swallowing it again :lol:.
I'll certainly ask about it next time.

[Sapphire Silk]

Damn, I wish I had been told. I drank all two litres :eek:. Some of it I even drank twice, closing my mouth when it came up and swallowing it again :lol:.
I'll certainly ask about it next time.

Yeah, I went through this with a friend of mine who had to take it as prep for a colonoscpy. She asked me how much she needed to drink, because it was so nasty.

I told her all of it.

"But as soon as I drink it, it comes out clear on the other end!"

"Uh . . . you can stop now. . . . :o"

[Princess-Snake]

I remember having a banana-flavoured medicine for when I was sick. Rather thin and pale yellow. I've no idea what drug it was...

Nystatin (sp?)?

[Shalom]

Damn, I wish I had been told. I drank all two litres :eek:. Some of it I even drank twice, closing my mouth when it came up and swallowing it again :lol:.
I'll certainly ask about it next time.

Back then it was four litres; the 2-litre size (Halflytely) is a more recent development. It's possible that you might have actually needed that much, or maybe not. I can guarantee you that you didn't need four.

Nystatin (sp?)?

Pretty sure nystatin suspension is apple-flavored, or at least smells like unfiltered apple juice. It does look kinda like pureed bananas, though.

It's also 50% sugar by weight. Don't ever spill that stuff, and if you do, wipe it up right away with a wet rag before it gets too sticky. We used to load 30ml of the stuff at a time into individual dose cups when I interned at a cancer hospital in the mid-'90s. There was a pump with a footpedal actuator (which we left on the table and hit with our hands, seemed to work better that way). Each press got you 15ml, so you left the hose in the vial, pumped twice, then moved the hose to the next vial. Except that once you got into the rhythm, you sometimes pumped before the hose was fully in. This is when you thank your deity of choice that the vials are set in a cut-off cardboard box and not right on the counter. Still made a huge mess, but at least the mess was contained.

[SongsOfDragons]

I think the banana medicine was some kind of antibiotic. It was definitely banana-y, taste like a liquid version of those foam sweets.

[CorneliaMarieRocks]

ok, I gotta ask, what the hell is APAP? I notice that my pain medication has it listed on the label (hydrocodone/APAP)

If I take NyQuil/DayQuil I gotta take the pill form, just thinking about the liquid form makes me wanna *yak*

I take my meds with milk mostly, but I won't actually put the pill in my mouth until I've got the milk glass in my hand. my mom, on the other hand, will put it in her mouth & *then* pour her drink (and by then it's started to melt :puke:

[MoonCat]

I learned to swallow pills at the tender age of six. As a kid, I was anemic. I don't think there is a single thing more disgusting than the taste of liquid iron.

Oh yes there is. Mineral oil.

If I ever have to induce vomiting in myself, all I'll have to do is think about what that tastes like and what it feels like in my mouth and :puke:

And it's probably been about 45 years since I had to take it.

[Sapphire Silk]

ok, I gotta ask, what the hell is APAP? I notice that my pain medication has it listed on the label (hydrocodone/APAP)

APAP is an abbreviation for the chemical name for acetaminophen (Tylenol) or paracetamol in Australia. Acetyl-para-aminophenol. :)

Many narcotics work more effectively when combined with aspirin or Tylenol. Because of the risks with bleeding or Reye's syndrome involved with aspirin, it has fallen out of favor and isn't used much anymore.

Oh yes there is. Mineral oil.

If I ever have to induce vomiting in myself, all I'll have to do is think about what that tastes like and what it feels like in my mouth and :puke:

Milk of Magnesia produces about the same effect in me :puke:

[ArcticChicken]

Milk of Magnesia produces about the same effect in me :puke:

Thank you, I had managed to completely block that from my memory until now. :puke:

[Sapphire Silk]

Thank you, I had managed to completely block that from my memory until now. :puke:

Always happy to share :D

[ralerin]

Activated Charcoal. This usually gets vomited up as well, usually on the nurse as well as all over the patient's front. And it does NOT come out in the wash. I've lost more scrub sets that way. :rant:

Hm. I take activated charcoal tablets if I haven't taken my lactose pills quick enough and I get the stomach "grumblies" as I call them once the dairy works its way through my system. They smell nastier than they taste, IMO.

Oh dear. You just reminded me of something that happend to me as a kid. Apparently I had the runs and the dr. told my mom to give me Kaopetate. Which was NASTY with a capital N. So I guess Iwas being not so cooperative and my parents had to kind of force it down, and I promptly spit it out on my dad, all over his new suit!

I like Kaopectate and Milk of Magnesia. :shrug: Go figure.

[Dragon_Dreamer]

Ceftin. HUGE horse pill (I choke if I take pills with liquid, so I have to swallow without), that causes me to puke pretty much immediately. My doctor wanted to try a stronger antibiotic for my bronchitis flareups, and it backfired. They at first told me to just keep taking it, so I resorted to putting it into a tablespoon of marshmallow fluff. When that lead to me getting sicker due to a reaction to the actual med, they switched me back to Z-Packs.

ANYTHING strong will cause my system to reject it violently, medicine-wise. Can't take Percoset, Vicodin, or the generics, either. It comes right back up.

[NorthernZel]

Sometimes I have to take a sort of Panadol (paracetamol) pill called Zapp - those pills are HUGE and cannot be cut in half.

When Lil Zel had a mild case of pneumonia he got prescripted some liquid penicillin that was vanilla flavoured - then a year later he had an ear infection that also had to be treated with penicillin, only that the vanilla stuff had been taken off the market and substituted with some bad-smelling, bitter stuff. Yet Lil Zel took it all in stride, and downed his medicine from a shot glass, instead of having it masked with cocoa milk as suggested from the nurse.

Though I still dread for the day when he can't have liquid medicine and needs to swallow a pill when needed. I have bad memories from when I had to adapt, and to this day I still get gag reflexes whenever I need to take a pill, be it vitamins, pain killers or other stuff.

[trailerparkmedic]

I'm really hoping my current hospital does it IV. I'm sure I'll learn about that fairly quickly once I hit nights. ;)

I gave Mucomyst a few days ago and apparently we only do it PO. This is especially lame because we don't have any cranberry juice or soda on the unit so we usually ask family members to buy something. There used to be a soda machine in the break room and nurses would just buy a soda. Maybe I'll keep some cranberry juice in my locker.

The only good thing is that we have 20% solution instead of the 10% I used previously. I gave it as protection before IV contrast so the patient only needed a small amount so he just took it like a shot.

[CorneliaMarieRocks]

APAP is an abbreviation for the chemical name for acetaminophen (Tylenol) or paracetamol in Australia. Acetyl-para-aminophenol. :)

Many narcotics work more effectively when combined with aspirin or Tylenol. Because of the risks with bleeding or Reye's syndrome involved with aspirin, it has fallen out of favor and isn't used much anymore.



Thanks for the info Panacea, that's kinda what I figured it was but wasn't sure. Must also be why they tell you that if you're taking narcs not to take Advil etc at the same time. I've found though that when that monthly time rolls around I HAVE to take Advil for the cramps as the hydrocodone doesn't touch it :cry:

[SongsOfDragons]

Some paracetamol in the UK - we can get it generic for something like 15p - is really chalky and nasty-tasting. I always look for the capsules if I can. But it's not as bad as other things mentioned here, and it goes almost immediately.

[fireheart]

Though I still dread for the day when he can't have liquid medicine and needs to swallow a pill when needed. I have bad memories from when I had to adapt, and to this day I still get gag reflexes whenever I need to take a pill, be it vitamins, pain killers or other stuff.

Get Lil'Zel to practice with jellybeans or M&Ms first. Alternately, the way I coped with it (I used to gag as well) was that I'd put some water into my mouth, shove the tablet in, swallow the whole lot and wash it down.

[K'Z'K]

I never mastered taking pills like a normal person. Instead, I basically pill myself like I would a dog. Open wide, stick tongue out, drop pill right into esophagus. Follow with water or other liquid. The few times I tried the traditional method, I ended up either choking or swallowing the water but not the pill.

It means I can't be subtle about taking my drugs, but it works. Just make sure your hands are clean.

[Sapphire Silk]

Thanks for the info Panacea, that's kinda what I figured it was but wasn't sure. Must also be why they tell you that if you're taking narcs not to take Advil etc at the same time. I've found though that when that monthly time rolls around I HAVE to take Advil for the cramps as the hydrocodone doesn't touch it :cry:

Actually, you CAN take ibuprofen (the active ingredient in Advil) with acetaminophen.

Ibuprofen works better for menstrual cramps and other muscular pain than hydrocodone. I wouldn't take hydrocodone for that. Hydrocodone is good for short term treatment of acute injuries (fractures, dental work, kidney/gallstones) and long term chronic management of severe pain from conditions like cancer.

[SongsOfDragons]

Acetaminophen is paracetamol over here, isn't it? *looks it up* well that's exactly what Wiki brings up...XD

When Housemate or I have pain issues, she with her dental problems before her surgery and me rarely, we 'double-dose'. Kind of a bad term, but it's take a normal dose of ibuprofen at say 12:00 then at 14:00 take a normal dose of paracetamol, then at 16:00 and 18:00 repeat and so on. They say four hours between doses of each so it's essentially leapfrogging. We've been told it's safe, by I think a medical practitioner that Housemate's mum knew (Housemate's snoozing still at the moment so I can't confirm) It works quite well before crawling to doctors and whatnot but it doesn't half blast through our medicine cabinet quickly.

*pokes liver* I think it's okay...I do get liver function tests every six months.

[Sapphire Silk]

Acetaminophen is paracetamol over here, isn't it? *looks it up* well that's exactly what Wiki brings up...XD

When Housemate or I have pain issues, she with her dental problems before her surgery and me rarely, we 'double-dose'. Kind of a bad term, but it's take a normal dose of ibuprofen at say 12:00 then at 14:00 take a normal dose of paracetamol, then at 16:00 and 18:00 repeat and so on.

I used to recommend this, but I no longer do. The practice has been researched and they have found that in fact people are overdosing themselves unintentionally.

It's safer to take one or the other, but not both.

[SongsOfDragons]

*nodnod* There is a 'do not exceed 4 doses in 24 hours' or something on the box.

Luckily neither of us two have had need of double-dosing for some time. *touches wood*

[PandaHatBear]

I used to recommend this, but I no longer do. The practice has been researched and they have found that in fact people are overdosing themselves unintentionally.

It's safer to take one or the other, but not both.

I didn't realise until recently that ibuprofen was meant to be taken only 3x a day, not 4 like paracetemol. Oops! I've started double dosing if I really need to, but I have an app to record what I've taken when...

[Eisa]

Mmmm, bubblegum-flavored amoxicillin...I also liked that stuff and was very disappointed I didn't get it more often. :D



This other stuff, though...when I had surgery at 16, they gave me liquid hydrocodone for pain. Problem was, it made me throw up. When you just had your tonsils out and various other things, that's not a good thing, I was throwing up blood.

So they gave me liquid phenergan to take before the hydrocodone.

Dear God, that stuff is NASTY. :eek: It tasted like vomit. And I had to have four teaspoons. I would take a twin popsicles thing, and bite off half with each spoonful to try and mask the taste enough that I could at least swallow it down. Ugh. So disgusting. That was the worst-tasting medicine I have ever had.

[ShinyGreenApple]

Ah, good ol' Wheel of Yuck. There are a few of us who, when we see the pharmacists consulting it, will chant together -

"Wheel.

Of.

YUUUUUCCCK! Yayyyy!"

As for nasty stuff, I hate, hate hate mixing amoxicillin. I always curse to myself when I pull one of those off the will call bin because it's a pain in the arse and takes one of us away from the register or fill and the line piles up. Also, when you first open it, at least to me, the powder smells like boogers. I don't even know if that makes sense, but it's revolting. I wish someone would invent a kids med that we didn't have to mix.

Most things ending in 'cillin' stink to high heavens, and I gag when I have to take the stuff. Keflex never had a smell to me, but I've always gotten the capsules, so maybe they don't smell.

If you want something really nasty, crack open a bottle of Rx strength B-1 tablets. Some of the prenatal vitamins stink really bad, too. They smell up the entire pharmacy when they're being filled. Benicar, on the other hand, has an interesting smell, kind of like cottage cheese and/or buttered popcorn.

But if there's one thing everyone agrees that they hate handling, filling, or taking, it's Metformin. Some people even call them 'the fishy pills'.

[MelodiousBubbles]

As a kid, bubble gum flavored amoxicillin. I had to take that stuff so much they actually used me as a test subject for new flavors.

I had so many ear infections when I was a kid (about every month or so from birth until I was 6 and my eardrum ruptured), and this was the stuff they gave me. I legitimately cannot smell or taste anything bubblegum flavoured without feeling ill now.

[Sparky]

Ew. Aspirin tastes fairly foul all by itself. I would hate to thing of trying to swallow anything with crushed aspirin in it. *shudder*

I even have trouble with coated aspirin. Most likely because there's at least one tablet that's broken inside the bottle, so there's just a little bit of aspirin powder on all of the other pills.

^-.-^

I love aspirin. Regular, uncoated, unflavored aspirin. Since I was a child, if I had to take an aspirin, I'd chew it, just to enjoy the flavor.

Yeah, I'm weird.

[workerbee222]

My favorite cat had to take Lactulose. After a while, that wasn't enough so I paid big bucks to the veterinary formulary to mix up a drug banned for human use (remember Propulsid? What a pleasant name for a laxative!) The pharmacist said, "It's just like a cigarette and a cup of coffee in the morning."

But the best part was that they mixed it into a product they called "triple fish emulsion." I smiled every month ordering the meds as the pharm tech confirmed the triple fish emulsion. I thought of Dan Ackroyd and "Bass-o-matic" every time.

[MoonCat]

My favorite cat had to take Lactulose. After a while, that wasn't enough so I paid big bucks to the veterinary formulary to mix up a drug banned for human use (remember Propulsid? What a pleasant name for a laxative!) The pharmacist said, "It's just like a cigarette and a cup of coffee in the morning."

But the best part was that they mixed it into a product they called "triple fish emulsion." I smiled every month ordering the meds as the pharm tech confirmed the triple fish emulsion. I thought of Dan Ackroyd and "Bass-o-matic" every time.

One of my cats had to use lactulose, too. He HATED that sticky crap. Then Mirolax came out, thank the gods! He actually enjoyed getting that.

[Shalom]

As for nasty stuff, I hate, hate hate mixing amoxicillin.

Shake it well before unsealing it, put in a tiny bit of water and shake again, then add the rest of the water. Works best this way.

I always curse to myself when I pull one of those off the will call bin because it's a pain in the arse and takes one of us away from the register or fill and the line piles up. Also, when you first open it, at least to me, the powder smells like boogers. I don't even know if that makes sense, but it's revolting. I wish someone would invent a kids med that we didn't have to mix.

There are a few. SMZ/TMP, for one. There were a few erythromycin derivatives that were also premixed, but they've been going away, one by one.

You think that one's a pain in the fundament, though, try mixing Ceftin. 19ml of water to reconstitute to 50ml suspension, which makes for an incredibly thick liquid. The instructions say to add the water, invert the bottle and "rock it vigorously from side to side" until you don't hear powder hitting the glass anymore, then turn it right side up and "shake vigorously in a diagonal direction". Every other ABX just says "Add 1/3 of the water, shake, then add the rest and shake again" or words to that effect. There's a reason they have to be so specific: if you don't follow the directions exactly, it doesn't work, and you wind up with lumpy goo.

(And I don't stock the 100ml ones. If a doctor prescribes 100ml, I'll make up two 50s. The reason for this is that two 50s together cost me $109.10, whereas one 100 costs me $123.61. How much sense does that make?)

Most things ending in 'cillin' stink to high heavens, and I gag when I have to take the stuff. Keflex never had a smell to me, but I've always gotten the capsules, so maybe they don't smell.

Yes. They do. Rotten eggs come to mind. The Teva capsules stink pretty badly, especially in the 500-count.

I think I've already mentioned the landfill-scented Cleocin suspension in this thread.

If you want something really nasty, crack open a bottle of Rx strength B-1 tablets. Some of the prenatal vitamins stink really bad, too. They smell up the entire pharmacy when they're being filled.

Pretty sure those are yeast derived. Any B-complex stinks. It was worse when they also included dessicated liver, though. Be thankful they don't make Theragran Hematinic tablets anymore.

Benicar, on the other hand, has an interesting smell, kind of like cottage cheese and/or buttered popcorn.

Butterscotch candy. Definitely butterscotch candy. (Which isn't my favorite candy, but it's better than some.) Not to mention the idiocy of packing them in unit-of-use 30-count bottles which are too small to fit a label bigger than a postage stamp on, so you have to dump them into vials anyway.

But if there's one thing everyone agrees that they hate handling, filling, or taking, it's Metformin. Some people even call them 'the fishy pills'.

The brand-name ones, definitely. Some of the generics are vanilla-scented.

Also, if you've got anyone whose doctor is still old-fashioned enough to prescribe natural thyroid extract instead of synthetic levothyroxine, hold your nose while counting them. Ugh.

[Zaiida]

When I went to get a dental xray recently, a few people were in the waiting room being told to drink some thickish, white liquid from a smallish bottle. Whatever it was the looks on their faces after the first gulp was :eek: :no: I HAVE TO DRINK ALL OF IT?!?! and the look of horror as they swallowed it reluctantly then ran for the water cooler to wash out their mouths. Whatever it was they had to wait 40 minsish before being xrayed so it must have been for an upper intestinal contrast. Poor people, they looked utterly disgusted and horrified. One woman tried to bargain with the receptionist and was bribed with a lollipop to drink it.

On the bright side I now have dental records for the first time in my life so I can be identifed if I die horribly :lol:.

Question..if you don't have all your wisdom teeth you never grow up right?

[KatherineB]

Ah, that white liquid sounds like the lovely stuff I had to drink once which then sets like cement in your bowels so they can take pictures and make sure nothing is leaking from places it shouldn't be. It is foul, disgusting, and the only thing worse than drinking it is trying to pass it out the other end in a day or two...

[SongsOfDragons]

Was it that barium stuff?

[cindybubbles]

All of my vitamins were crushed and mixed into ice cream.

[Geek King]

Oddly, though, when I was in the hospital last month, they gave me some clear stuff mixed into a liter of water in preparation of a cat scan of my bladder area. I don't remember the name of the stuff, but I was to drink half over the course of an hour, and the other half during the twenty minutes before the scan.

They warned me it was horrible stuff, and to pace myself. So I took my first drink with great caution, but found it no worse than boiled water. Just kind of flat, really. I was kind of disappointed, after all that build up the nurses gave me. :lol:

[fireheart]

Oddly, though, when I was in the hospital last month, they gave me some clear stuff mixed into a liter of water in preparation of a cat scan of my bladder area. I don't remember the name of the stuff, but I was to drink half over the course of an hour, and the other half during the twenty minutes before the scan.


I take it that water only wasn't an option?

When I had to go for a kidney and pelvic ultrasound (to work out why the hell I was having recurrent UTI's) I had to drink a litre of water and hold it for an hour. Of course, with this particular UTI it hurt like CRAZY! In sympathy, the tech called me in first and got the bladder part out of the way so that I could let it out.

[ADeMartino]

There also used to be some kind of pill my parents would give me for hyperactivity. Again I don't know what it was called, but it was bitter and awful. I couldn't take it with water. My parents had to crush the pill and mix it with applesauce or ice cream, but I could still taste it. >.<


Tiny little light blue pill? Sounds like Ritalin (sp?). I had to take that shit every day. HATED it. Was so glad when I didn't have to take it any more.

[Geek King]

I take it that water only wasn't an option?



No. It was some agent to help them look around the whole system. They were checking to see if there was more cancer spread in the area. Fortunately, nothing showed up, and the doc believes now, based on what came out in the surgery and the pathology later, that it was caught early. They termed it stage 1-B, for what its worth.

[WoodenSunshine]

[QUOTE=Zaiida;1033918]When I went to get a dental xray recently, a few people were in the waiting room being told to drink some thickish, white liquid from a smallish bottle. Whatever it was the looks on their faces after the first gulp was :eek: :no: I HAVE TO DRINK ALL OF IT?!?! and the look of horror as they swallowed it reluctantly then ran for the water cooler to wash out their mouths. Whatever it was they had to wait 40 minsish before being xrayed so it must have been for an upper intestinal contrast... [QUOTE]

This, this and this. The chalky "liquid" with the consistency of grainy pudding. This. Absolutely most god awful stuff. Tried it with chocolate syrup the first barium x-ray I had. Next time, I told them to just give it to me straight. :puke:

I will take prednisone over that stuff.

[IamEmancipated]

I'll echo the prednisone tasting shitty. I had mine for bronchitis, and took it with breakfast and a cup of coffee. Hot coffee and prednisone. BRILLIANT

I want to add Nystatin to this list (or whatever the generic for liquid thrush medication is) because my son had to take it back when he was 6 months old and I accidentally got to taste some. No wonder he put up a fight when I gave it to him and tried to spit it out. It tastes like someone liquified burnt-glue and melted plastic into a bottle.

[Sedorna]

I can't remember the name of the worst tasting medicine I ever took. I'm not even sure what, exactly, it was for. I think it was for an ear infection. And I think it was somewhat homeopathic, because it looked and tasted exactly like liquid ear wax. (Or, at least, what I assume liquid ear wax would taste like.) It was so vile, I couldn't bring myself to finish it.

[SongsOfDragons]

That sounds like Otex ear drops...aren't they a kind of gold colour? I can't remember. Smelled...interesting, but thankfully you aren't supposed to eat them, you plonk them in your ears...only I once used it for too long and the nurse said 'no wonder your ears hurt, the canals are full of oil!! :eek:'

Although am I the only one who finds ear syringing really soothing and comforting and sometimes will giggle through the entire process? :D

[wolfie]

All this "awful medicine" stuff reminds me of the old joke where a patient complains to the doctor that the suppositories he prescribed taste awful, and he can't swallow them. When the doctor (horrified) tells the patient he's not supposed to take them by mouth, the patient sarcastically answers "Then what am I supposed to do? Stick them up my ass?"

[Geek King]

[...], the patient sarcastically answers "Then what am I supposed to do? Stick them up my ass?"

You laugh, but my gaming buddy who is a pharmacist had a customer who wasn't taking the foil packaging off of their suppositories. :eek:

[Shalom]

You laugh, but my gaming buddy who is a pharmacist had a customer who wasn't taking the foil packaging off of their suppositories. :eek:

I have colleagues who write Unwrap And Insert on the labels for this very reason.

[cashierbex]

I have always hated cherry flavored medicine, alcohol free or not. Grape also. Well, nowadays I can't have liquid medicine much cause of it having some kind of sugar I can't have in it (sucrose I think is in some stuff? Not even artifiicial, but my body can't handle it like it was artificial). I just take the pills.

[Zaiida]

He's a new one. I accidently swallowed whole my chewable, fizzy vitamin C tablets one morning recently. Damn I had the worst orange burps for the rest of that morning :lol:.

[Shalom]

He's a new one. I accidently swallowed whole my chewable, fizzy vitamin C tablets one morning recently.

Here lies the body of Mary Ann Lowder
She burst while drinking a Seidlitz powder
Called from this world to her heavenly rest
She could have waited till it effervesced.

(quoted in "Some Curious Epitaphs", by "Only Johnson" [sic], Machinists' Monthly Journal, May, 1915, page 402)