Advising patients with medication related dysphagia: caution required.
Around a quarter of all patients in a typical GP practice have difficulty in swallowing tablets. This is one of the most common problems affecting compliance. Most commonly prescribed medications are now available in liquid form and many more can be obtained as unlicensed special formulations. These medicines, known as 'specials', are formulated in accordance with the requirements of the doctor and must be for the use of an individual patient on the prescriber's direct personal responsibility. Specials cannot be advertised and cannot be supplied if an equivalent licensed product is available.