title: Effect of dilution with beverages on the smell and taste of oral acetylcysteine.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Utah Poison Control Center, Salt Lake City, 84108, USA. barbara.crouch@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Barbara Insley
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Crouch
authors.forename: E Martin
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Caravati
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dandoy
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages; D006801:Humans; D012903:Smell; D013649:Taste