Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2025
Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
Published on: July 16, 2016
Acceptability of multiple coated mini-tablets in comparison to syrup in infants and toddlers: a randomised controlled
Viviane Klingmann1, Markus Hinder2, Thomas H Langenickel3
1Department of General Paediatrics, Neonatology and Paediatric Cardiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany viviane.klingmann@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
Objectives:
Drug treatment of children is often limited to liquid formulations or manipulation of adult solid oral dosage forms because of the lack of age-appropriate formulations, concerns around particle aspiration and paediatric acceptability. Recent research revealed that the administration of mini-tablets has substantial advantages in improving dose accuracy and avoiding issues related to drug stability, storage conditions, potentially toxic excipients and taste masking (especially effective when the mini-tablets are coated). Most trials were performed with single and multiple uncoated mini-tablets. This study here aimed to investigate young children's acceptability and swallowability of multiple coated placebo mini-tablets compared with glucose syrup.
Design:
This clinical trial was conducted as a single-centre randomised cross-over study.
Setting:
Prospective cross-over study performed at the Children's University Hospital Düsseldorf.
Patients:
This study was conducted on 50 children in five age groups from 1 to <6 years.
Interventions:
An age-adapted amount of 16-28 mini-tablets and 3-6 mL syrup was administered in randomised order.
Main Outcome Measures:
Acceptability and swallowability of multiple coated mini-tablets and syrup.
Results:
In all age groups, administration of multiple coated mini-tablets and syrup showed good acceptability (mini-tablets 80%-100%, syrup 90%-100%) and swallowability (mini-tablets 30%-70%, syrup 20%-80%) without any clinically meaningful difference. This is consistent with results from large studies with uncoated mini-tablets.
Conclusion:
Multiple coated mini-tablets are a suitable age-appropriate alternative to liquid formulations in the paediatric population. No safety concerns with the use of coated mini-tablets were observed in the study.
Trial Registration Number:
DRKS00010395.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
01:19One-Compartment Open Model for IV Bolus Administration: General Considerations
The drug's presence in the body is defined by an equation representing the difference between the rates of drug entry and exit. Key parameters—elimination rate constant,...
01:18Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
01:18Two-Compartment Open Model: IV Bolus Administration
The disparity between drug input and the sum of drug transfer rates between...
01:18Routes of Drug Administration: Enteral
Enteral administration involves drug administration via the mouth in two ways: orally or sublingually.
Unlike sublingually drugs, drugs that are taken orally pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and get metabolized by the liver. Once metabolized, the drug is absorbed into the systemic circulation, reaching different body parts via the bloodstream. However, while passing through the stomach,...
00:56One-Compartment Open Model for IV Bolus Administration: Estimation of Clearance
In the one-compartment open model for intravenous (IV) bolus administration, clearance is estimated by dividing the elimination rate by the plasma drug concentration. This equation leverages the elimination rate constant and the apparent...