title: Experience with a pill-swallowing enhancement aid.
abstract: Barriers to swallowing tablets and capsules can impact adherence to medication regimens. Few tools are currently available to assist adolescent children who have difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules. A convenience sample of adolescent children, identified through selfreport as having difficulty in swallowing tablets or capsules in the past, were provided Pill Glide, a flavored spray promoted to aid swallowing. To emulate medication administration, a tic tac (candy) was placed in the middle of the tongue, and with a drink of water, the participant was instructed to swallow the tic tac. Success or failure to swallow the tic tac was recorded. A total of 11 adolescent children ranging in age from 9 to 17 years reported past difficulty with swallowing medication. Seven of the 11 participants were successful in swallowing the tic-tac with the use of Pill Glide. This initial assessment of Pill Glide spray demonstrates positive findings for improving the ease of swallowing tablets and capsules for adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Pedipharm Consultants, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: Danielle C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lavallee
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000336:Aerosols; D002214:Capsules / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003679:Deglutition; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D054327:Lubricants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013607:Tablets / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D002214:Capsules; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D054327:Lubricants; D013607:Tablets