Effect of dilution with beverages on the smell and taste of oral acetylcysteine.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of dilution with beverages on the smell and taste of oral acetylcysteine was studied.


METHODS
A 5% solution of acetylcysteine was prepared from a 20% solution using water, Fresca, Coca-Cola, cranberry juice, or chocolate milk. Adult pharmacy students blinded to the diluent used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to rate the smell and taste for each 5% solution. For the taste evaluation, approximately 10 mL of each 5% solution was placed in a cup with a lid and straw. The difference in VAS scores for taste and smell was measured using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test. Comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Bonferroni adjustment, with the level of significance set at <0.005.


RESULTS
A total of 42 adult students participated in the study. Fresca was rated as the least offensive diluent with respect to smell by 22 students (52%) and taste by 33 students (79%). The chocolate milk-acetylcysteine solution was rated as the most offensive smelling by 22 students (52%) and most the offensive tasting by 11 students (26%). Cranberry juice was rated the most offensive tasting by 12 students (29%). The VAS score for Fresca was significantly lower than for all other beverages with respect to both smell and taste (p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Acetylcysteine 20% oral solution diluted with Fresca to a 5% solution was reported to have the least offensive odor and taste and should be considered as an option when attempting to improve the palatability of oral acetylcysteine to adults.
Crouch
Barbara Insley
BI
Utah Poison Control Center, Salt Lake City, 84108, USA. barbara.crouch@hsc.utah.edu
Caravati
E Martin
EM
Dandoy
Christopher
C
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages; D006801:Humans; D012903:Smell; D013649:Taste