Swallowability of Minitablets among Children Aged 6-23 Months: An Exploratory, Randomized Crossover Study

Minitablets have garnered interest as a new paediatric formulation that is easier to swallow than liquid formulations. In Japan, besides the latter, fine granules are frequently used for children. We examined the swallowability of multiple drug-free minitablets and compared it with that of fine gran...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pharmaceutics 2022-01, Vol.14 (1), p.198
Main Authors: Mitsui, Nao, Hida, Noriko, Kamiya, Taro, Yamazaki, Taigi, Miyazaki, Kazuki, Saito, Kiyomi, Saito, Jumpei, Yamatani, Akimasa, Ishikawa, Yoichi, Nakamura, Hidefumi, Nakamura, Akihiro, Harada, Tsutomu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age groups
Caregivers
Drinking water
Drug dosages
fine granules
infants
liquid formulations
Pediatrics
Pharmaceutical industry
Sucrose
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Minitablets have garnered interest as a new paediatric formulation that is easier to swallow than liquid formulations. In Japan, besides the latter, fine granules are frequently used for children. We examined the swallowability of multiple drug-free minitablets and compared it with that of fine granules and liquid formulations in 40 children of two age groups ( = 20 each, aged 6-11 and 12-23 months). We compared the percentage of children who could swallow minitablets without chewing with that of children who could swallow fine granules or liquid formulations without leftover. The children who visited the paediatric department of Showa University Hospital were enrolled. Their caregivers were allowed to choose the administration method. In total, 37 out of 40 caregivers dispersed the fine granules in water. Significantly more children (80%, 95% CI: 56-94%) aged 6-11 months could swallow the minitablets than those who could swallow all the dispersed fine granules and liquid formulations (22%, 95% CI: 6-47% and 35%, 95% CI: 15-59%, respectively). No significant differences were observed in children aged 12-23 months. Hence, minitablets may be easier to swallow than dispersed fine granules and liquid formulations in children aged 6-11 months.
ISSN:1999-4923
1999-4923
DOI:10.3390/pharmaceutics14010198