Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Capsules
Patent
1988-05-11
1991-04-23
Page, Thurman K.
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Capsules
206532, 206534, 206540, 206634, 424468, A61K 952
Patent
active
050098942
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to an arrangement for, and a method of, administering a pharmaceutical preparation and, more particularly, to the administration of an orally active pharmaceutical preparation contained in non-tacky coated pellets by breaking open a frangible packet containing the pellets, and by pouring the pellets from the opened packet into a human or animal patient's mouth.
2. Description of Related Art
Pharmaceutical preparations are traditionally orally administered to patients in many forms. Tablets are often used, but are not altogether desirable in certain cases. For example, depending on their size and coating, tablets can be difficult for certain patients, particularly children or small animals, to swallow. In some instances, the tablets begin to dissolve immediately upon coming into contact with saliva in the mouth, causing the unpleasant taste of the medicinal preparation to be sensed. In addition, relatively small tablets can be easily concealed or stolen. This is a particular importance in the administration of methadone and like drugs to narcotic addicts, or other medications to mental patients, because such patients may sometimes not swallow the tablets, but, instead, conceal them in their mouths or clothing in order to sell or dispose of the medication.
Capsules are also commonly used, particularly in those cases where slow or sustained release of the pharmaceutical preparation is desired. Although generally satisfactory for their intended purpose, capsules which enclose the pharmaceutical preparation within a gelatin container are generally larger in size than tablets and, hence, aggravate the swallowing problem. To overcome this problem, some patients break open the capsules to swallow the pharmaceutical preparation within the gelatin container, but often the pharmaceutical preparation has a bitter taste. In any event, the breaking open of a gelatin container can be messy and cause loss of part of the dosage amount.
Liquid pharmaceutical formulations are also generally satisfactory, but often need to be refrigerated or shaken prior to use. In some instances, such as certain pediatric antibiotic suspensions, preparation of the liquid formulations require addition of water to a powder immediately prior to use. Unless measuring spoons or the like are used, the dosing of the liquid formulation may be inaccurate, and spillage is a frequent problem, particularly with children. Also, liquid formulations often contain sweeteners, coloring and flavoring agents and other additives, many of which are not acceptable to nutrition-minded patients. Liquid formulations are also not stable for lengthy periods.
Another common problem with pharmaceutical preparations in tablet or capsule form is that there is very little room, if any, to print indicia on the tablet or capsule itself. Such indicia could be very useful if they identified the preparation itself, the dosage amount, the expiration date, or provided warning notices or directions for use. To meet this need, some drug manufacturers will design a tablet with a characteristic shape or color, or imprint an identifying mark on the tablet. However, no room exists on the tablet itself for more printed information and, generally, this information would be provided on a bottle or other relatively large-sized container housing the individual tablets or capsules.
However, such large-sized bottles or containers are generally too large to fit in one's pocket and, rather than being carried about, are generally stored in one's medicine cabinet and thus are out of sight of the patient when the tablet/capsule is being orally taken. In the case where a patient takes multiple medications, the medications are often co-mingled in a pill box or similar unmarked container, whereby the medications can be identified, if at all, only by their size, shape and color and reference to a pharmaceutical text. Elderly patients, especially, may become confused when unmarked medications are present in an unmar
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Baker Cummins Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Page Thurman K.
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