How about just tell the kids to quit whining?
That said, dextrose is pretty benign as sugar goes.
Make sure it’s a time-released placebo.
That’s the ticket. Get ‘em used to taking drugs for every problem right off the bat.
Nothing ever happened in my house that couldn’t be cured by a teaspoon of children’s Robittussin and a hot chocolate. Just sayin’.
This all hinges on the use of “hypochondria” and whether or not this child is really a hypochondriac or it is being used loosely to convey a point. Hypochondria is a real disorder, a somatoform disorder and what this child is feeling may very well be real.
If this child truly is a hypochondriac, as described in the DSM-IV-TR, then a placebo is likely going to be only a temporary solution, if that. When you are experiencing physical symptoms it is hard for anyone, and especially a child to believe there is nothing wrong with them. There could be any number of triggers or causes or none at all. Until the individual realizes for themselves their thoughts are not rational, all the dextrose tabs in the world aren’t going to help. It can be very stressful, life altering and debilitating to those who suffer from this disorder. If “hypochondriac” is being used loosely here, that is different, and this lady is just wanting to make some money from parents with spoiled children. If hypochondriac was intended as clinical then the whole premise is absurd and could possibly do as much harm as good.
The strongest medicine in the world is telling your ‘sick’ son that yes, he can stay home from school. My son stood on his head after that. Complete ‘recovery’.
I’d opt for the Extra Strength placebo (the 500 mg version) much better.
Stop making kids meds taste good. The only medicine I wanted to take was amoxicillin because it tasted like bubble gum. Now everything from children’s vitamins to cough syrup and baby aspirin tastes like candy. I faked many an illness to get out of school, but none to get a pill.
Nice call. I’d agree on the whole, although severe depression does not respond to placebo (as any qualified psychiatrist will tell you).
But mainly it’s a way of not rearing your kid into yer average pillhead (you know, with dozens of bottles and strips in the night drawer - and there’s gazillions of them).
BTW I am new. Seems like a nice place.