| Results of a recent survey of mothers
revealed that in regards to liquid medications, the majority
of children do not like the taste (commercially flavored and
prepared or compounded). Flavoring medications at a pharmacy
is a safe and effective method to combat a drug's existing
taste, while maintaining the medication's stability and efficacy.
Methods such as administering a medication with food or drink
may allow for a medication to be swallowed, but cannot guarantee
safety as certain food-drug interactions exist. Successfully
swallowing a medication and following a proper drug regimen
ensures medicinal compliance, a key component to fighting
persistent symptoms and the spread of infection.
Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) August 16, 2006 - A
study commissioned by the International Association of Medicinal
Compliance (IAMC) showed that of 1,000 mothers, 67% noted
that their children either disliked or hated the taste of
liquid medications. Surprisingly however, only 17% of mothers
had ever requested a change in a medication’s flavor
at a pharmacy. Though the reason for this discrepancy remains
unclear, the IAMC believes it is a result of lack of patient
education and the importance of understanding the impact that
flavoring can have on medicinal compliance.
If you ask any parent, they will tell you that in general
children have difficulty swallowing medications in pill, capsule
or chewable form
"If you ask any parent, they will tell you that in general
children have difficulty swallowing medications in pill, capsule
or chewable form," said Marvin Miller President of the
IAMC. "This explains why liquid medications are typically
the most popular choice for young patients by their parents."
In the study, 100% of mothers reported giving their children
liquid medication on a regular schedule or when sick, with
91% reporting they never use chewables, pills or capsule medications.
Despite the better delivery method of liquids, most children
react negatively to liquid medications, and still struggle
with them as a result of bitter taste or foul smell. Beyond
the stress placed on both parent and child in forcing a medication
down, if a child is unable to swallow a medication properly,
there is little to no assurance that the child receives the
necessary and proper amounts of medication. "Medicinal
non-compliance such as this can lead to persistent symptoms,
an uncontrolled illness, and the further spread of infection,"
said Miller.
Though flavoring has become more commonplace in pharmacies
across the nation, 40% of mothers polled had never even heard
of the option to change a medication’s flavor. Similarly,
of the remaining 60%, roughly 43% had heard of changing medication
flavors, but had not actually done so at the pharmacy because
they were unsure of the process. However, after learning about
the option to flavor medications, 68% of mothers polled felt
they would be very likely to request flavoring in the future.
"This is a positive sign," says Miller. "The
more that parents understand that physiological and psychological
barriers to administering medicines can be overcome with simple
tools like flavoring, the more money we will save our nation’s
healthcare system and the less trauma young patients will
have to endure when taking bad tasting liquid medications."
Both of the major companies that promote medicinal flavoring,
FLAVORx and TastyMeds, follow a scientifically-tested and
medically developed formulation or ‘recipe,’ that
must be performed by a licensed pharmacist or technician.
And since FLAVORx has been around for over 10 years without
any incidence of adverse reaction, allergy, complication or
changes in efficacy, pharmacists and consumers can rest assured
that the addition of the flavoring will enhance palatability,
but will not alter stability or efficacy of the medication.
Flavoring systems, such as FLAVORx, offer 24-hour technical
support that is available for any questions that pharmacists
or consumers may have.
In a secondary study of nationwide pharmacists, the IAMC
reports that 79% of pharmacists feel an obligation to inform
a consumer that a medication may be difficult to take because
of taste. Luckily, most national major chain pharmacies (Walgreen’s,
Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite Aid, Target, etc) offer a flavoring service
to enhance patient care programs. They can flavor both over-the-counter
and prescription medications, and in certain situations a
pharmacist can convert pills and capsules to suspensions that
can be easily flavored. The response from mothers showed that
97% of children had a positive reaction to flavorings used
in their medications.
For more information on the safety, process and success of
flavoring a particular medication, consult a physician or
pharmacist. To look up a pharmacy that offers a flavoring
service, please visit www.flavorx.com
or www.tastymeds.com.
About the IAMC: The International Association of Medicinal
Compliance (www.takeyourmedicine.org)
is a non-profit organization focused on creating a healthier
world through improved medicinal compliance. Dedicated to
finding a solution to the universal problem of medicinal non-compliance,
the IAMC promotes education and awareness through campaigns
that discuss the impact of non-compliance on higher healthcare
costs, lowered productivity and the spread of disease. IAMC
members represent a pool of individuals and organizations
ready to share their expertise with colleagues in higher education,
policymakers, media professionals and the public at large.
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