Some drugs have a bitter or unpleasant taste that may contribute to nonadherence with a drug regimen. There are a number of strategies to overcome this barrier.
An approach to handling taste may be needed if
(1) the drug is very bitter or otherwise unpleasant.
(2) the patient is unable or unwilling to take the medicine without masking (small child, demented patient, etc).
Approaches to handling a drug with an unpleasant taste:
(1) masking (sweetness,
(2) coating the drug so that it cannot be tasted
(3) identifying and removing an offending material not intrinsic to drug activity
Requirements:
(1) The masking solution is effective in masking the unpleasant taste.
(2) The masking solution does not interfere with drug activity.
(3) The masking solution is stable with storage, especially under adverse conditions.
(4) The masking agent is not unpleasant for someone with a distorted sense of taste.
Sometimes more than one approach may need to be tried until one is found that is effective. Sometimes it may be necessary to go to a different route of administration to deliver the drug.
A negative consequence of tasting too good is that children or animals may take unintended doses, resulting in a drug overdose.
