Amoxil Suspension(sp?) Question

[OwlMyste]

this is a stupid question I know...just bear with me on this...


I remember I once had strep throat, and the Dr. gave me this really good tasting bubblegum flavored syrup stuff...I THINK it's called an amoxil suspension. And I began to wonder: does this bubble gum flavored delicious liquid come without the suspension in it? Or is it added last minute? Thanks for answering this Question. Also, (if it is legally possible) where could I buy the stuff that is suspension-free?

[jdpharmd?]

I'd guess that it was Amoxil suspension, or some generic version (trimox, etc). It's funny because most people just hate the taste of it and want nothing to do with it (usually they're kids, of course, otherwise they would just get the capsules). It usually comes to the pharmacy as a powder that has everything in it and just needs to be reconstituted with distilled water in order to make the liquid suspension. I haven't personally seen just the flavor available, but I know that some independant pharmacies can flavor most antibiotics with whatever flavor the kid chooses, so there must be some way to get 1) unflavored amoxicillin suspension and 2) the flavors to go in it. I'm not too sure where you could find them, or what you would put them in, but I'd try my local independant pharmacy.
I usually think that most antibiotic suspensions SMELL really good, but I doubt that they tase that way. I'm particularly fond of Augmentin-es. It seems to have a pineapple/citrus smell, but I haven't personally tried it. Let me know if you like that one...

Jd

[LVPharm]

Yup, JD is right, it is originally in a powdered form and reconstituted with DI water prior to the patient picking the stuff up. If your looking for the flavoring agent, your best bet is the local "compounding pharmacy". They get all sorts of flavors in bulk since they need to make and flavor dosage forms for the finicky patients (ie, kids). Of course, they'll look at you funny for asking....are you gonna drink that stuff like "Nestle Quick"?!

[Samoa]

I think the taste difference someone referred to earlier is a brand vs. generic issue. I have heard that the generic amoxicillin tastes bad, while the brand name version is pretty decent. There's also a cephalosporin suspension out there that tastes pretty good too. The major determinant of taste in the final product is how much of the drug dissolves in solution vs. how much stays in suspension. You don't taste the drug as much when it's suspended as you do when it's dissolved.

My personal favorite is Dimetapp liquid, but then I like grape better than bubble gum. When I was a tech, I used to make the vancomycin suspension with grape-flavored syrup. Very difficult to resist trying it. And I totally hate anything cherry-tasting. Where I work now, we make methadone suspensions with cherry syrup, and I have no urge to try those at all. Although I imagine I could get to like it if I drank enough...

I actually shouldn't joke about that. People might think I was serious. In reality, I don't even take things I have a prescription for, unless it's actually my own supply. Nor do I take OTC stuff unless I've paid for it, or it's designated for employees. Damn professional ethics!

When I went to visit Eli Lilly as a pharmacy student, they told us that in England and Europe, they prefer orange-tasting suspensions over bubble gum flavor. I like those better too, but you can't get them here.

[Pilot]

Amoxil = bubblegum flavor

Trimox = cherry flavor