Acceptability of cholestyramine or colestipol combinations with six vehicles

Preferences for cholestyramine or colestipol in combination with orange drink, orange juice, grape juice, apple juice, water, or apple sauce were evaluated in 40 healthy adults. Each subject evaluated the taste, texture, and smell of 30-mL samples of 12 drug-vehicle combinations (two drugs, six vehicles) using modified five-point wine-tasting scales. Samples were prepared to contain either cholestyramine 1.0 g or colestipol hydrochloride 1.3 g. The products were tested at room temperature and were administered in a random order. Subjects and observers were blinded to the identity of the products. Acceptability scores for taste, texture, and smell were significantly higher for cholestyramine than for colestipol. Total mean preference scores for cholestyramine-vehicle combinations ranged from 9.9 to 11.7; for colestipol, 6.3 to 8.9. Orange drink, apple juice, grape juice, and orange juice were the preferred vehicles for cholestyramine. The preferred vehicles for colestipol were orange drink, apple sauce, and apple juice.