How to get a child to take their medicine

Okay, I must admit that this is not a hub with sound advice, in fact there is no advice at all. My title was created to illicit help and seek advice. Forgive my subterfuge but when you have a sick child that refuses to take his medicine, you become somewhat devious.

I have an 8year old son who refuses flatly not to take his medicine.  He's not often sick so thankfully this is not a regular nightmare, but a nightmare nevertheless!

His tight lipped refusal to swallow his meds has had me begging, pleading, coaxing, bribing and grizzling at him to open his little mouth but the idea of swallow something that tastes disgusting is just not something he will do. I do understand as having medicine is as unappealing to me as it is to him, but I know when I'm sick I still have to take the meds. So how do I get him to have the same viewpoint?

Its funny that before him are 3 children and I have never had the same problem with them as I have with my youngest. Faintly I recall someone telling me not all children are the same. I sit here grizzling wishing in this instance I wish they were.

My eldest was sick maybe 3 times in his life. But taking medcine was as simple as drinking a glass of milk and he's now 20. My daughter, Miss 18yr old never seemed to be ill but when she was,she much preferred taking vitamins to medicine. When antibiotics were required, she swallowed it with a sour grimace and carried on. And my 10yr old? Well he simply asks for tablet forms and swallows them whole. A lucky mother am I to have had such easy children, but this has left me so completely unprepared for Master 8yr old. Oh the drama, the tears, the frustration!!

A small booklet of advice was finally given me the other day with helpful tips, like giving him an ice-block before he takes his medicine to numb the taste buds. A good idea I thought but that meant 3 iceblocks a day until his medicine is done.

Give him a treat after taking it, the taste of the treat taking away from the taste of the medicine. Yes, I tried that, but its the memory and smell of said medicines that prevents him from putting it in his mouth, let alone swallowing it!

It is the same if I held his nose. Just seeing that medicine get closer to him, his memory of its foul disgustingness has his gag reflexes kick in before I'm even 2cm from his mouth!

Oh what to do?

 Oh ye who readth this.. give me advice.. take pity on this poor unprepared mother of a stubborn boy who's resolve not to have his medicine is surprising strong for a boy his age and size.

And as I started this hub.. I end it with.. "help!!"