A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down...at least according to Mary Poppins.

But in real life there are other measures that may work just as well.If your medicine is too bitter, try sucking on a popsicle for a little while to numb your tastebuds.

Or chew on something strong like an orange peel. You can also try to bypass your taste buds altogether by spooning the medicine into the pouch of your cheek and letting it to slide right down.

Another option: Put the bottle in the fridge for a while. In some cases, the cold can dull some of the flavor.

Then there's the trick of holding your nose while you swallow. If you don't smell it, you might not taste it as much.

With your doctor's okay, try combining your meds with something sweet, but it doesn't have to be sugar: Grape juice, applesauce or flavored yogurt can do the trick.

Or ask if your pharmacist can add in some flavor. Often you can choose from varieties like butterscotch, peppermint and coffee. If none of this works, find out if there's a better-tasting alternative. Maybe the brand-name version of a drug tastes better than the generic. Or vice versa.

As always, if you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.