Taste of Clindamycin and Acetaminophen

Abstract

This study evaluated the taste palatability of liquid clindamycin and acetaminophen products on the market. Subjects rated the palatability of 3 clindamycin suspensions, 1 amoxicillin suspension (tasted twice), an acetaminophen elixir, and an acetaminophen suspension in a randomized blinded fashion on a 0 to 5 scale. Forty-six adults aged 20 to 82 years volunteered for this study. Means (and 95% confidence intervals) were as follows: amoxicillin-first taste 3.6 (3.3-3.9), amoxicillin-second taste 3.5 (3.2-3.7). Clindamycin Rising, Perrigo, Greenstone; 2.0 (1.6-2.5), 3.0 (2.7-3.3), and 2.2 (1.8-2.6), respectively. Acetaminophen elixir 0.6 (0.4-0.8) and acetaminophen suspension 3.4 (3.1-3.6). One clindamycin tasted significantly better than the others. Additionally, although 2 acetaminophen formulations are currently available over-the-counter, the suspension is more palatable and less costly. Medicaid drug programs that perpetuate the use of elixir should change their coverage to save money and provide patients access to better tasting acetaminophen.

Replacing Liquid Antibiotics With Cheaper Pill Equivalents: An Opportunity for Substantial Savings

“…This is not the case with clindamycin, despite the presence of multiple generic formulations in the market. 5 Increasing antibiotic resistance is likely to continue, making the utilization of newer and more expensive drugs more likely. Linezolid is an example of this.…”

“…Comparing this with the generic pill/capsule forms would have been an unfair comparison; thus, a price of $80 for the equivalent generic liquid clindamycin was substituted, based on a study of 3 generic clindamycin liquid products. 5 Oseltamivir generic prices were corrected in December 2017 because of the uncertainty of whether generic or nongeneric prices were used in July 2017. Table 2 lists representative pill and liquid costs for common antibiotic courses.…”