Paediatrics

Making medicines easier for kids to take

If your child struggles with tablets or capsules – whether they’re an infant, sensitive to taste, or finding the size of the pill difficult – talk to your doctor about whether a compounded medicine could be appropriate.

With a valid prescription, a compounding pharmacist may be able to prepare the prescribed medicine in a form that’s easier for your child to take, such as a flavoured liquid, powder or troche (dissolvable lozenge).

Our team prepares these medicines in a specially equipped, licensed facility in South East Queensland, operating under strict quality and safety standards.

Kid-friendly flavours

Many children find the taste of some medicines unpleasant. In suitable cases, your prescriber may request that the medicine be prepared with child-friendly flavours such as:

  • chocolate
  • vanilla
  • raspberry
  • butterscotch
  • bubblegum

These flavours are designed to help make the medicine more acceptable to children, without relying on high sugar content.

What is a liquid suspension?

A liquid suspension is a liquid form of medicine – similar in texture to traditional cough mixtures – and is often easier for children to swallow than large tablets or capsules.

Liquid medicines can also be measured accurately using an oral syringe, which is particularly useful for infants and younger children who cannot swallow solid doses. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you on the correct dose and how to measure it.

What is a troche?

A troche is a small lozenge that dissolves slowly in the mouth, often placed under the tongue or between the cheek and gum.

With this dosage form:

  • the active ingredient is absorbed through the lining of the mouth
  • any remaining medicine is swallowed with saliva and absorbed in the usual way

Troches may be considered for children (and adults) who have difficulty swallowing or where a prescriber prefers this route of administration. Your doctor will decide whether this is suitable for your child.

Why use powders?

In some cases, medicines can be prepared as a measured powder. The prescribed dose can be mixed into a small amount of soft food or a drink your child already enjoys.

It’s important that:

  • the full amount of food or drink is consumed, so the complete dose is taken
  • you follow the instructions from your doctor or pharmacist carefully

Powders are not appropriate for all medicines, and your prescriber will advise if this option is suitable.

Why You Should Never Crush Pills

In desperation parents sometimes resort to crushing pills with the back of a spoon and adding the resultant powder to the child’s favourite food. However there’s a good reason why this course of action is inadvisable.

study conducted by the University of Queensland found that up to 24% of a pill’s active pharmaceutical ingredients can be lost when it’s crushed. A certain amount remains on the back of the spoon, on the crushing surface and all parts in between. Crushing pills means you can never be sure that your child is getting a dose in sufficient strength to effectively treat their health condition.

And according to the government’s NPS MedicineWise agency, “The stability and bioavailability of drugs can be significantly changed by the simple act of crushing a tablet, preparing an oral liquid from a tablet or capsule, or mixing a crushed tablet or capsule powder with food or other thickening agents.”

“Manipulating solid dosage forms remains a significant source of medication error and harm to patients.”

Always check with your doctor, paediatrician or pharmacist before crushing or altering any medicine. In many cases, a safer alternative dosage form can be prescribed and prepared by a compounding pharmacy.

What kinds of paediatric medicines can be compounded?

Many, but not all, medicines can be compounded for children when prescribed by a doctor. Common examples include medicines used in paediatrics for:

  • digestive and reflux symptoms
  • allergy and respiratory support
  • infections
  • nutritional and vitamin support
  • sleep and behavioural management, where prescribed

Your child’s prescriber will decide which medicine, strength and dosage form are appropriate, and whether compounding is suitable.

Will it cost more?

The cost of a compounded paediatric medicine varies depending on the ingredients and the dosage form prescribed. In many cases, it is comparable to other prescription medicines. Our team can provide a quote before you proceed.

We can arrange for your child’s medicine to be supplied through a partner pharmacy close to you, or delivered Australia-wide where permitted.

For more information about paediatric compounding, speak with your doctor or paediatrician, or contact our team for general information about how compounded medicines may fit into your child’s treatment plan.

For more information on safe and effective paediatric compounded medication Contact Us.