Question
Can antibiotics be mixed with milk for children to drink? The child has bronchitis, has not developed a high fever, and occasionally coughs with a small amount of phlegm. The child also vomits when taking medication. Previous treatment and outcomes: The child refuses to take the medicine and wants to have it mixed with milk. It is unknown whether this is feasible.
Answer
It is acceptable to use milk instead of water to administer medication, but the tablets should not be crushed or the outer shell removed as this can affect the drug’s effectiveness. It is advised not to force feed the medicine to avoid triggering coughing. Medication can be mixed with sugar water or dark-colored juices (such as grape juice or apple juice, but not grapefruit juice as it often interacts with medications) even combined with jelly, pudding, or jam to mask the taste. Some parents directly mix the medicine with milk, which is also fine, but one must be cautious that if the child does not finish the milk, the drug dosage may be insufficient, thereby affecting the treatment outcome.