Making Medication Taste Better
One of the greatest challenges in prescription medication is a simple fact: some patients just don’t like taking medicine. From a child who can’t stand the taste of a cough syrup to a cat who absolutely refuses to take an antibiotic, taking medicine rarely is a pleasurable experience.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Each patient is unique, with certain likes and dislikes. Others have difficultly swallowing a pill, and might respond better if the pill were compounded into a liquid suspension instead. A distinctive solution to these issues is a flavored medicine. Medicine doesn’t have to taste bad.
In Penticton, Carmi Remedy’sRx Compounding pharmacists have access to may flavors and flavor combinations which can enhance the taste and color of a medication to make it easier for children, pets and adults who require something a little different.
Adults & Children
A prime advantage of compounding is our ability to customize medication. A child who has difficulty taking a prescription because of the taste is a prime candidate for this. He or she won’t mind taking medication that tastes like bubblegum, watermelon, or even chocolate and marshmallow. Most flavors are sugar-free and some are even dye-free, which benefits patients who are sensitive or allergic. And working closely with a physician, your Carmi Remedy’sRx compounding pharmacist in Penticton, can even change the form of the medication. What if a child’s medicine came in the form of a lollipop!
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. When re-flavoring antibiotics, for instance, careful consideration is given to the measurement of pH in order to maintain the medicine’s stability. Whether you prefer a distinct flavor – or no flavor at all – compounded medications may be a benefit to you.
Animals
Cats, dogs exotic pets and even zoo animals also are prime candidates for flavored medication. Cats don’t like pills, but they do like fish. Dogs may not appreciate a squirt of traditional medication into their mouths, but they’ll gladly take it if it takes like chicken.
Working closely with a pet owner and a veterinarian, Carmi Remedy’sRx compounding pharmacist can custom-flavor a medication to fit the tastes and preferences of any kinds of animal. There are beef, cheese, chicken and liver flavors for dogs; fish for cats;. Horses prefer alfalfa, cherry, apples carrot and molasses. Even birds, rodents and reptiles have flavor preferences that can be met by a compounding pharmacist.
Do you have a flavoring challenge that could be solved through compounding? Ask your presciber compounding pharmacist about custom flavoring options.