Poor palatability and subsequent tampering with medicines can have dangerous consequences.
Swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) is a common symptom that has been reported to be 12% amongst inpatients, 35% amongst the over 50s, and 68% amongst institutionalized elderly. Regarding patients with specific muscle related illnesses such as motor neurone disease, it is reported to be 100%. Furthermore, in a recent UK survey in primary care 11% of patients over 75 reported difficulties in taking solid oral medicines.
It is reported that up to 80% of patients do not take their medicines as agreed with their prescriber and that this in itself has been estimated to cost the USA $100bn per year. Prescribing medicines to patients who physically cannot swallow them due to the inappropriate formulation not only serves to exacerbate the level of non-adherence, but increases the likelihood of therapeutic failure and ultimately is a waste resources.
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