Question

How improvement of a drug in case of taste is done?

(a) Injecting the drug so no taste related problems

(b) Reducing the drug solubility in the saliva

(c) Lower affinity for the taste receptors and making the drug sweet

(d) Reducing drug solubility in saliva and lower affinity for taste receptors

I have been asked this question in an online interview.

The doubt is from Prodrugs topic in section Prodrugs & Excretion of Drugs of Drug Biotechnology

Answer 1

Right answer is (d) Reducing drug solubility in saliva and lower affinity for taste receptors

Explanation: Reason for poor patient compliance particularly for children is very important. For children, bitterness, acidity, causticity, and even the color matters a lot. Two approaches for changing or decreasing bad taste are, reducing drug solubility in saliva and lower affinity of the drug for taste receptors, thus patients cannot taste the drug.