Back before we were busy healthcare professionals and intrepid medgadgeteers, we used to enjoy X-Entertainment’s nostalgic product and video reviews (the X is for ‘Generation X’ — get your mind out of the gutter, people).
Matt from X-E has now branched out into healtchare consumer reporting, offering a critique of Children’s Tylenol Flavor Creator:
After pouring the regular dose of liquid Tylenol, you’re free to pick your desired flavor, rip the packet open and dump the generous portions of chalky, colored powder into the tiny plastic cup. As the instructions advise against stirring, the point is to mask whatever unpleasantness comes with medicine by covering your mouth in vaguely candy-flavored dust.
…Personally, as the liquid medicine is already made to taste like a bowl full of cherries, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. It’s interesting to whip up a cherry/chocolate syrup sundae when you need to banish a fever, but beyond the gimmick, there’s not much necessity in this. Then again, a lot kids would be much more agreeable to taking medicine when they needed to if they got to act like mad lab doctors and make their “potions” first. I’m 27, and it worked for me.
We look forward to other bloggers trying this, along the lines of “Cooking with Flavor Packets.” Just limit your gustatory experiments to one bite every four to six hours, no more than four times a day.
More on peds medication administration…