Randomized, double blind comparison of brand and generic antibiotic suspensions: II. A study of taste and compliance in children.
BACKGROUND
The taste of oral liquid medications influences compliance in children. Generic preparations are prescribed to reduce cost and may taste worse than brand name products.


METHODS
This was a prospective, randomized, double blind, crossover trial of the differences in taste and compliance between brand and generic antibiotic suspensions in children 3 to 14 years of age. Verbal and visual assessment methods were used to assess taste, and compliance was measured by the amount of drug returned after use.


RESULTS
Ten children in each of the cephalexin and erythromycin-sulfisoxazole groups did not report that the brand and generic formulations tasted differently. Fifteen children thought that brand trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole tasted better than the generic preparation.


CONCLUSIONS
Brand name oral liquid antibiotics do not necessarily taste better than their generic counterparts. Despite preference for the taste of brand trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, all of the children in this study were compliant with both brand and generic medications.
El-Chaar
G M
GM
St. John's University College of Pharmacy, Jamaica, NY, USA.
Mardy
G
G
Wehlou
K
K
Rubin
L G
LG
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics; D002506:Cephalexin / Q000737:chemistry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013444:Sulfisoxazole / Q000737:chemistry; D013649:Taste; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000737:chemistry
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D004917:Erythromycin; D013444:Sulfisoxazole; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D002506:Cephalexin