Drug Information Q&A Q10. Are there any drugs that have been made easier to use by devising their form or other features?

Answer

There are a number of drugs that have been devised to be easier to use, such as orally disintegrating tablets that can be taken without water or with a small amount of water, and tape-type drugs that are applied to the body and absorbed little by little.

Explanation

Tablets and capsules are the most commonly used because they are easy to handle.

However, elderly people and children have difficulty swallowing even regular-sized tablets and capsules because of their weak swallowing ability. Even young people may have difficulty swallowing capsules with a small amount of water, which can cause the capsules to stick to the throat.

Orally disintegrating tablets were developed to solve these problems. These tablets dissolve in the mouth with saliva or body temperature, much like a candy bar, and are easy to swallow. They are easy to swallow for the elderly, children, and those who have difficulty swallowing due to illness. Since it does not require water and can be swallowed with saliva, it is convenient for people on the go, such as during work or on vacation.

Orally disintegrating tablets are already available for a variety of medicines, including headache medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, sleep aids, and diabetes medication.

Similarly, a jelly formulation of Alzheimer's disease medication has been developed that is easy to swallow for those who have difficulty swallowing.

On the other hand, drugs that are easier to use have been developed by devising new ways for the body to absorb the drug.

For example, sublingual nitroglycerin tablets, a treatment for angina pectoris attacks, are placed on the back of the tongue and absorbed quickly through the mucous membrane to take effect immediately. A spray type has also been developed. These are sprayed into the mouth when a seizure occurs and absorbed through the mucous membranes. The duration of effect is short (about one hour), but it can be used for emergency purposes until you reach the hospital. However, when controlling angina to prevent attacks from occurring, it is necessary for the drug to remain in the body for a long time, rather than being absorbed quickly and the effect disappearing immediately.

To address this issue, a type of drug was developed in which nitroglycerin is soaked into a special tape, applied to the skin, and absorbed gradually. Since the ingredients of the drug are absorbed gradually through the skin, the effect lasts for a long time and there are few side effects, so it is used to prevent seizures. Since the drug is absorbed even while sleeping, it can be used to prevent seizures at night. Patients and their families can sleep peacefully, which helps improve their quality of life (QOL = Quality of life).

There are also drugs for Alzheimer's disease and asthma breath that can be applied to the skin.

In this way, pharmaceuticals are being developed from various perspectives to be safer, more effective, and easier to use, and to contribute to the quality of life of patients and their families.

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