Enhance The Flavor Of Your Medicine
One of the greatest challenges in prescription medication is a simple fact: Some people hate 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.
A prime advantage of compounding is its ability to customize medication. What’s the easiest way to customize it? Flavor! Our pharmacists have access to many flavors and flavor combinations which 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, or even chocolate. Most PCCA flavors are sugar-free and some are even dye-free, which benefits patients who are sensitive or allergic. Working closely with a physician, our compounding pharmacists can even change the form of the medication. What if a child’s medicine came in the form of a lollipop or a gummy treat?
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, our 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 of 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 tastes like chicken.
Working closely with you, the pet owner, and your veterinarian, our compounding pharmacists 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, apple, carrot and molasses. Even birds, rodents and reptiles have flavor preferences that can be met by our compounding pharmacist.
Like humans, some animals may require alternate medication forms such as pastes, custards, or traditional pet biscuits and treats. Cats are notorious for eating right around a pill disguised in food, but the right combination of flavor and appearance can take the struggle out of medicating your pets. Click here for more information on veterinary compounding.