PHARMACIST ARE PAID TO HELP
The Autism Speaks Medication Guide made it sound like medications should be a last resort. In theory I agree with this. However, there are times that this is not true. These are for parents/doctors/nurses to decide. Pharmacists may be part of the team or simply there to provide parents with information. The real determination should be between the patient/parents and the doctor to determine what the need is; then what line of therapy is to follow.
One area I might think medication is a line of treatment above behavior modification is head banging or threating suicide. AGAIN I AM NOT TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO BUT GIVING EXAMPLES OF CASES. You must decide what is the best line of therapy treatment after research and discussions with your healthcare providers.
Next, I think forceing a child with sensory issues to be forced to learn to swallow a capsule first is way out of line. I doubt a pharmacist was contacted when Autism Speaks wrote their Mediation Guide booklet. There are many cases where things can be done to help a child/adult swallow easier. AGAIN YOU MUST TALK WITH THE DOCTOR/NURSE/PHARAMACIST.
HERE ARE EXAMPLES WHEN a dosage delivery cannot be changed.
1) It is timed release tablet and cannot be crushed or broken (some talbets that are timed release may be scored to broken in half….again check with the doctor/nurse/pharmacist).
2) Capsules that cannot be opened due to being timed release and more (Again check with healthcare provider on this issue).
Now let me list some ways a pharmacist MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND YOUR CHILD WITH AUTISM/SENSORY ISSUES OR JUST A KID/ADULT WITH SWALLOWING ISSUES.
1) Plugging an empty capsule. If a tablet taste horrible and the child hates this. A pharmacist might put it inside an emplty capsule to elminate the taste period. Or, this might be done to help with swallowing issues. Sometimes a capsule is easier to swallow than a tablet. AGAIN CHECKING WITH THE DOCTOR/NURSE/PHARMACIST IS A MUST. THEY KNOW WHEN THIS IS AN OPTION OR NOT.
2) Maybe a tablet is available in a chewable form. This means it can be crushed. This helps the swallowing issue. Then it might be able to be placed on icecream, cool whip or some other favorite of the child to help with sensory taste issues. SORRY I MUST CAUTION AGAIN TO CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FOR WHEN THIS IS POSSIBLE.
3) A pharmacist can check to see if a liquid is available or maybe compound a liquid (most pharmacist do not like to do this. I don’t like to either. I feel there or other ways to find an answer but sometimes this is the only answer. I caution this is more expensive than some of the above.) AGAIN YOU MUST CHECK WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO SEE IF THIS IS POSSIBLE.
I am making this short. I only wanted to give a few examples of what a pharmacist might be able to do for you in helping you with your child’s issues. This beats trying to get your child to bend to the word’s normal. You may have to get your child to swallow a pill. But I would rather try to bend to his/her world first.
Remember you know your child best too. I feel confident you can gather all the information you need to make the right decision for you child and not Autism Speaks or anyone else.
I would tell you to consult the American Pediatric Association. Ask if it is true that many or most drugs used in kids are used off label. Then have your doctor explain that to you. It means that many/most drugs are not tested on children. Thus, the use of the drugs are not approved for children. I am saying don’t be scared of this. Be aware of it and check out the side effects but don’t be too scared. As long as you do some research, I have confidence you can make the best medication decision for your child. Don’t let others make you feel bad. Trust yourself. Make pharmacists earn their pay. Same with doctors and nurses; ask them about how to make it easier for your child to not have to adapt but adapt the medication doseage to them.
Ollamok's Informatic's 