Taste Making

Question 1

What is the problem with taste of medicines?

Answer 1

Most have a bitter taste/ irritate the throat
= affect acceptance
= affect compliance

Question 2

What is the problem with solid dosage forms (capsules/tablets)?

Answer 2

Can mask the taste
BUT unconventional for children to swallow

Question 3

What is the problem with liquids?

Answer 3

Harder to mask the taste

Question 4

Why are most drugs not suitable for children?

Answer 4

Clinical trials only conducted in adults
= products NOT licensed for children
= “off-label”

Question 5

At what age do infants display extrusion reflex (prevent swallowing of solids)

Answer 5

<5 months

Question 6

At what age can semi-solids be taken?

Answer 6

5-6months

Question 7

At what age can they swallow tablets?

Answer 7

6+ years

Question 8

What are the advantages of liquids?

Answer 8

More appropriate for paediatrics
Flexible + accurate dosing
Using oral syringe

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of liquids?

Answer 9

Taste + smell can be more difficult to mask
More expensive
Limited-shelf life
Requires more excipients

Question 10

What is problem of excipients in neonates + infants?

Answer 10

They may not be able to metabolise or eliminate excipients

Question 11

What are the excipients to avoid?

Answer 11

Benzyl alcohol = neurotoxicity
Ethanol = neurotoxicity
PEG = metabolic acidosis
Polysorbate 20 + 80 = liver + kidney failure

Question 12

What is palatability?

Answer 12

Overall appreciation of a medicine towards its smell, taste, texture + aftertaste

Question 13

What factors play into acceptability?

Answer 13

Palatability
Appearance

Question 14

When do taste buds appear?

Answer 14

7-8th week of gestation

Question 15

What are the 2 ways to smell?

Answer 15

Orthonasal - just nose
Retronasal- mouth + nose

Question 16

What gives a cooling feeling?

Answer 16

Methanol
Mint

Question 17

What gives a numbing feeling?

Answer 17

Clove
Parabens

Question 18

What gives a bite/burning feeling?

Answer 18

Pepper
Alcohol

Question 19

What flavours are more accepted by the USA?

Answer 19

Bubble-gum
Grape

Question 20

What flavours are more accepted by Europe?

Answer 20

Citrus
Red berries

Question 21

What are the 3 approaches of taste masking techniques?

Answer 21

Create a barrier
Chemical or solubility modification
Adding flavourings/sweeteners

Question 22

How does the coating technique work?

Answer 22

Physical barrier to drug particles
= minimises drug interaction with taste

Question 23

How does adding sweeteners work?

Answer 23

Best for liquids
Highly water soluble = dissolve in saliva = coat tastebuds = stop interaction of API with tastebuds

Question 24

What is an example of a sweetener?

Answer 24

Sucrose

Question 25

What are the problems with sweeteners?

Answer 25

Cavities

Question 26

What are examples of sugar-free sweeteners?

Answer 26

Hydrogenated glucose syrup
eg. maltitol, sorbitol or xylitol

Question 27

How does the complexation technique work?

Answer 27

Decreases amount of drug particles directly exposed to taste buds
OR
Decreases oral solubility = reducing perception of bitter taste

Question 28

What is an example of a complexing agent?

Answer 28

Beta - cyclodextrin

Question 29

How do prodrugs work?

Answer 29

Initially inactive
BUT upon administration converted into active form
= physiochemical modification of bitter loci
= inhibits their interaction with taste receptors

Question 30

Why should colouring agents be avoided in paediatric population?

Answer 30

Hypersensitivity
Adverse reactions

Question 31

Which dyes are unacceptable?

Answer 31

Azo-dyes