Sugar content in liquid oral medicines for children.
The most sold and/or prescribed liquid oral medicines for children in Tubarão, Southern Brazil, were assessed. Their sugar concentration was tested and compared to those in their directions for use. All pharmacies and pediatricians working in the city were visited by a previously trained interviewer. Pre-tested questionnaires were applied in order to assess the most sold pediatric as well as the most prescribed pediatric liquid oral medicines. Three samples of each medicine were analyzed by Lane-Eynon general volumetric method. Among the 14 most sold/prescribed medicines only four did not have sugar contents (analgesic, cortisone, and syrups). Sugar concentration ranged from 8.59 g/100 g of drug (SD=0.29 g/100 g) to 67.0 g/100 g of drug (SD=6.07 g/100 g). Only 50.0% of the total medicines that presented sugar in their ingredients showed this information in their directions.
Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, SC, Brasil.
Karen Glazer
KG
Peres
Caroline Teixeira
CT
Oliveira
Marco Aurélio
MA
Peres
Melissa dos Santos
Mdos S
Raymundo
Roseane
R
Fett
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D012439:Saccharin / Q000032:analysis*; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000032:analysis*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000032:analysis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D013012:Sorbitol; D013395:Sucrose; D012439:Saccharin