Published online January 26, 2009
PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 2 February 2009, pp. e235-e238 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-2059)
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ARTICLE

Minitablets: New Modality to Deliver Medicines to Preschool-Aged Children

Sarah A. Thomson, BSca,b, Catherine Tuleu, PhDa,b,c, Ian C. K. Wong, PhD, MRPharmSb,c, Simon Keady, MPharmc,d, Kendal G. Pitt, PhDe and Alastair G. Sutcliffe, MD, PhD, FRCPCHf

a Centre for Paediatric Pharmacy Research
c Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, England
d Pharmacy Department, University College London Hospitals, London, England
e Global Manufacturing Supplies, GlaxoSmithKline, Ware, England
f General and Adolescent Unit, University College Medical School
b Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, England

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to assess the acceptability and suitability of placebo minitablets for preschool-aged children.

METHODS. One hundred children 2 to 6 years of age were recruited from a major London hospital. How to swallow the minitablet was discussed with the child, and chewing was discouraged. The parents were asked to administer 1 minitablet (placebo, 3-mm diameter) to the child. The outcomes were recorded as (1) swallowed, (2) chewed, (3) spat out, or (4) refused to take.

RESULTS. Of the youngest children (2 years of age), almost one half (46%) swallowed the minitablet. The proportion increased to 53% for children 3 years of age. Children ≥4 years of age were more likely to swallow the minitablet than not to swallow the minitablet, with 85% of 5-year-old children swallowing the minitablet. The ability to swallow the minitablet was not affected by gender.

CONCLUSIONS. This study demonstrated the potential to use minitablets for the treatment of preschool-aged children and suggests that minitablets can be used as a potential new formulation for children in this age range.

Key Words: minitablets • oral dosage form

Accepted Oct 9, 2008.


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