Pill Properties Causing Dysphagia and Treatment Failure

Conclusions Our survey suggests that four out of five adult Americans take several pills daily, and do so without undue effort. It also suggests, that half of today’s Americans encounter(ed) pills that were hard to swallow. Up to 4% of our participant’s gave up on treatments because they could not swallow the prescribed pills. Up to 7% categorically reject taking pills that are hard to swallow pill. Specific material properties are widely blamed for making pills hard to swallow: extra-large capsules and tablets are universally feared; medium sized pills with a smooth coating are widely preferred. Our findings suggest that health care providers could minimize treatment failures and complications by prescribing and dispensing pills that are easy to swallow. Industry and regulatory bodies may facilitate this by making ”swallow-ability” an essential criterion in the design and licensing of oral medications. Such policies the burden of pill taking for Americans, and improve the adherence with prescribed treatments.
Source: Current Therapeutic Research - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research