3 year old with UC, won't take pills

[Tara]

Hi all,

my 3 year old was just diagnosed with UC last week and they prescribed us Pentasa. she is supposed to take 2, twice a day. There's no way i can get her to take these huge pills, and any attempt i've had has resulted in her accidentally chewing it, or fighting, kicking and screaming. we were going to open them and put them on or in her food, but after reading that they are time released to dissolve in the intestine, we decided against that

i've done a little searching on here and seen a lot of folks mention a form of Pentasa in the form of granules that come in little sachets. I also noticed that these people live overseas, and it appears as though we Americans may not be so lucky to have it in that form

at this point i think we'd be better off giving her the suppository than the pill, but the sachet granules would be fantastic. are us Americans unfortunately just stuck taking the pill? I need any help i can get!

 

[Jennifer]

I think its best to ask your doctor that question because if they do have that here in the US then they can prescribe it to you right away. You don't need a doctor visit to ask them a question. You can simply call and leave a message and they will get back to you. I know some kids have a hard time with big pills and for me, I think some sort of reverse psychology worked on me. Something like, "only big kids can do it anyway." But that won't work on every kid I'm sure. Good luck and I hope someone else has some better info than me.

 

[Entchen]

Hospitals often have a person trained in techniques to help children learn to take meds, too - you might check if you can find a resource somewhere?

 

[Crohn's 35]

Wow, I am so surprised they are prescribing Pentasa pills for a little one! It is hard enough for an adult! I use to half mine and didnt know you are not supposed to. The have to be whole to work in the intestine. I can swallow them now but they are big pills! Hope you can get some granules, or some med that is easier to take. So sorry you young one is a sick. Call your doctor or pharmacist to see if the sachets do exist! Good luck!

 

[gypsigirl28]

is it a pill or capsule. Maddie was on pentasa capsules and we had to open them poor little beads into a little applesauce and give it to her that way. that is what docs said to do. She is only two and that is what we did for her

 

[Tara]

thanks for the advice and encouragement everyone

we'll ask the Dr. this week. i was just hoping someone else in the US was on the sachets so i could have a little hope in that

i'll look more into ways to try and get her to take the pills, but she's stubborn. we actually tried putting it in applesauce and she could feel the granules in it and spit it out! i'm not sure what else to try

 

[glum chump]

If there's a pharmacy open in the evening, you might be able to call them and ask the question of whether Pentasa is available in any other form in the U.S. It might give you a more immediate answer and perhaps, some hope?

In my experience, pharmacists are generally quite willing to answer these sorts of questions.

 

[gypsigirl28]

Hi Tara, here in the US the capsules are the only way pentasa can be givin to a child her age. When they gave it to Madasin we said that same thing and because of there age that is the only thing they can do is the capsules and you have to open them and put in applesauce. Maddie did not like it either but we gave it to her and just made her swallow, after a few times she was really good about taking it. There is another drug that comes in Liquid that they gave to Madasin, it is called sulfasalizne, madasin took it for a while but got every side effect that came along with it so they switched her to pentasa.

It is odd that you would say she was diagnosed at age three. Madasins doctor diagnosed her in november at age 1 and half, then the other day said she did not have it because children at 2 years old dont get UC, crohns or IBS.
I would like to copy your post and fax it to him to prove him wrong.

I hope you get her to take the pentasa and it makes her feel better. Good luck

 

[dustydshook]

I would ask the pharmasist if you could open it and sprinkle it in some apple sauce. Most of the time the pharmasist knows better than the doc. Pentasa is some huge pills to try to give to a little one. Good luck.

 

[Chuck2008]

This is what you are looking for: http://www.salix.com/products/[wiki2="Apriso"]apriso[/wiki2]/index.aspx

(Apriso extended release)

its available in the US, its 5-ASA mesalamine in a once per day extended release capsule form. The capsules breakdown in your stomach to release the extened release beads. You can just open the capsules and drink the beads in water. The gel capsule is just a convenient way to get the capsules into your stomach.

 

[dustydshook]

Just found this web site it says you can open the pills and dump the beads in a glass of water.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000880

 

[Tara]

Thanks for all the replies.

We ended up getting in contact with her Dr, so we are just waiting to see what he decides from here. I know he was looking into alternate forms of her current medicine (hopefully in a liquid form). She was admitted into the hospital last night, so we are on the road to get her better.

 

[Dexky]

Tara, sounds like you are getting some good advice here!! Please keep us updated!! We have a subforum in the Support section on here called Parents of kids with IBD. Please come in there and post so more will be likely to find it and help you!! Good luck!! I know what you're going through!! My ten yr old son was dxed last Dec.. Hang in there, they'll find what works best for her!!

 

[gypsigirl28]

hi tara I hope things are getting better for your little one.. keep us posted please

 

[meardonna]

my son has been on steroids on and off since he was 2. I got soluble steroids and disolved them in blackcurrant juice! I just had to be carefull to make sure he fininshed it and din't leave it lying around. i'm on pentasa and the tablets dissolve, i'm not sure if your really supposed to do that but atleast it's one way of getting it in and its better than no tablets at all