All people need to take medication at some point in their life and the normal format is usually in pill or capsule form. Patients who have difficulty taking medication, such as very young patients or elderly patients, are given liquid forms of the medication. Most people are familiar with over-the-counter liquid pain reliever formulations for infants and toddlers, as well as liquid cold and flu remedies marketed for adults, but few realize that alternative formulations for many prescription medications are available when the patient has trouble swallowing pills. . As always, when taking any medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter, care must be taken to ensure that there are no adverse side effects when two or more medications are taken at the same time. You should always inform your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you are currently taking.
Normally, people who take their medicine in pill or capsule form do not have any difficulty swallowing the medicine. These can come in a number of different sizes ranging from fairly small to quite large. Sometimes patients have a swallowing disorder due to a condition called dysphagia. This condition can develop when one is young and persist throughout life, or it can develop later in life, caused by a disease or condition that affects the ability to swallow. When this happens, it is best to check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out if the prescription medicine comes in a different form, such as a liquid, that would be easier to swallow. There is a long formulation and development process that drugs must go through in a liquid formulation before being prescribed for use by patients. This is because it is essential that the drug is evenly distributed throughout the formulation. Liquid formulas often state on the label that the bottle needs to be shaken before ingesting the medication to ensure that the medication is evenly distributed and has not settled to the bottom of the bottle.
Liquid formulations need to be designed a little differently from tablets so that the patient receives the right amount of medication without drinking large amounts of liquid. In addition, it should include an additive that masks the taste of the drug, which is often quite bitter and bad tasting. Normally, the average dose is no more than 5 milliliters for children, but adults generally need to take the drug in a higher dose. Typically, the drug is in the form of a syrup, mixture, or solution and includes sweeteners and flavoring agents to disguise the taste of the drug. Fluids with a thicker viscosity are often used so that they are not as likely to be spilled or inhaled by mistake. Also, it may have other ingredients that help the medicine stay in the liquid, which will ensure that the medicine is effective.
A special measuring spoon comes with liquid medications to ensure the proper dose is delivered at all times. A recent study revealed that when the special measuring spoon was not used, the dose size could vary greatly due to the fact that the teaspoons are not made in standard sizes. If you find that you cannot easily use the spoon provided, ask your pharmacist for a special medicine cup or oral syringe so that you can measure the correct dose correctly.
There are some basic steps to follow when taking liquid medications:
1. Make sure you know the dose you will need to consume.
2. Measure the dose into the spoon, cup or syringe carefully.
3. After the dose is administered, clean the dispenser thoroughly so that it is ready when it is time to administer the next dose.
4. Make sure you store the bottle properly; Some medications, such as antibiotics, may need to be refrigerated.
A medication dispenser can be very beneficial for any medication that needs to be taken long term. These pumps are designed to fit in the medicine bottle and dispense a specific amount with each pump. These devices will facilitate the delivery of the correct amount of liquid medication when administered, especially at night when lighting may be poor and in situations where there are dexterity or vision problems. Any problems should be discussed with your pharmacist or doctor.
Proper storage of medication is essential and all instructions regarding dosage and timing of administration must be followed exactly. Also, any old medicine should be taken to a pharmacy for proper disposal.