FLAVORING OF MEDICATION

Active pharmaceutical ingredients that taste bitter and/or irritate the mouth and throat are unpleasant to children as well as many adults. The unpalatable flavor of the medicine can thwart the benefits of even the most powerful of drugs. Failure to consume medication may do the child harm and can even be life-threatening. A distinctive solution to these issues is a flavored medicine. Medicine doesn’t have to taste bad.

A prime advantage of compounding is its ability to customize medication. What’s the easiest way to customize it? Flavor! Compounding pharmacists have access to many flavors and flavor combinations which can enhance the taste and color of a medication to make it easier to swallow.

A child who has difficulty taking a prescription because of the taste is a prime candidate. He or she won’t mind taking medication that tastes like bubblegum, watermelon, chocolate, and many more.

Many adults also may benefit from flavored medication. As people age or battle a chronic illness, taste preferences can change. Often, sweet flavors can become unbearable, or bitter flavors may cause nausea. In these instances, your compounding pharmacist can alter or mask certain flavors in order to make medicine more palatable – without changing the strength or effectiveness of the medicine itself.

REF: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2744307/

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