LO has been diagnosed with a UTI. Any creative suggestions on how to get her to take her antibiotic?

CaringinVA: Speak with her pharmacist for alternative antibiotic.

Try with cranberry juice.

If she is a retired RN, then surely she has sufficient knowledge of her condition and related medications. Unless her mental capacity is greatly diminished and she is unable to make decisions for herself, if she refuses medications, then honor her wishes.
If the symptoms of the UTI are bad enough, she will take the medicine.
I've heard a lot from this forum, that UTI's can cause some horrible behavior issues. Surely MIL knows this.
You say she's on hospice. Is she near end of life? Or is hospice providing long term palliative care? If the goal is for her to remain stable long term, then I can see the need for the antibiotic. Maybe a liquid in her juice?
Otherwise, let it go and let her make her own decisions for her own body!

They can do a liquid antibiotic. IMO that would be the simplest solution.

Or can they give her an injection of antibiotic?



Why put everyone through the 3x/day nonsense in this situation?

(Even as a child, when I was sick, I got an injection of penicillin and would be better within hours. But that was way back when there was more common sense.)

If she doesn’t want to take it, do the best you can with the advice given here. But she is on hospice, therefore she is at end of life. What else is there to be said? Something is going to take you out at that point.

Ask the Hospice nurse if the medication can be formulated as a liquid rather than tablets or capsules. (I just saw that you said the medication is a liquid. that's good)

You say she does not eat pudding or applesauce.
How about
Yogurt
Cake
Ice cream (make sure the antibiotic can be taken with dairy, some you have to wait up to 3 hours. And if that is the case with this med pudding would not work anyway)
Mashed potatoes
Oatmeal

Since the medication is a liquid try
Sweet tea
Fruit punch
try making mom a "smoothie". If she drinks that make them small so she is not sipping on it all day since you have to dose her 3 times.

If a liquid than put it in OJ or applejuice. Antibiotics are horrible if not flavored. My girl's were always cherry but u could taste that underlining bitterness.

I would make sure to get a culture done to make sure she gets the right antibiotic. My Mom was given a broad spectrum one and she had a bad reaction. Why because it had penicillin in it and hospital records showed she was allergic to it.

Other than IV or liquid I don't think there's any other way. The liquid forms are for kids and are palatable (sweetened) but depending on which antibiotic may not be available in that form. This would be a question for the pharmacist.

Please know that even if you can crush a pill, they are inconceivably bitter, even when mixed in with pudding or applesauce. It may be better to put it in a strong-flavored jelly.