ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG SUSPENSIONS - A BLINDED COMPARISON OF TASTE OF 12 COMMON PEDIATRIC DRUGS INCLUDING CEFIXIME, CEFPODOXIME, CEFPROZIL AND LORACARBEF

We conducted a blinded taste test evaluating 12 antimicrobial suspensions by smell, texture, taste, aftertaste and overall acceptance. Drugs received cumulative scores in each category as well as a total score ranking. Overall Lorabid(R) scored highest but not significantly higher than Keflex(R), Suprax(R) and Ceclor(R), all of which scored higher than the other test drugs. Cefzil(R) and Augmentin(R) scored just below this group of drugs and higher than all other test drugs. Vantin(R) was inferior to these drugs primarily because of its low score in aftertaste. It was ranked along with V-Cillin-K(R), Veetids(R), Sulfatrim(R) and Pediazole(R), the lowest scoring group of drugs other than Dynapen(R) which scored lower than all other test drugs. No difference overall was detected between the two penicillin VK suspensions evaluated, V-Cillin-K(R) and Veetids(R).