PNS391 REAL WORLD USE OF VEHICLES BY OLDER PATIENTS TAKING SOLID ORAL MEDICATIONS: A SURVEY IN THE ONLINE HEALTH NETWORK PATIENTSLIKEME.

Abstract

To describe the types of vehicle (food and drink) used by older patients as an alternative to water to aid swallowing pills, and ways in which dosages were manipulated prior to use, as these may impact absorption and bioavailability of medicines. Online survey of members of the PatientsLikeMe online health network aged ≥60 years. Members were invited to take an online survey via private message and asked to select which if any of a list of food and drink types they had used to aid swallowing capsules or tablets, the frequency of use of vehicles other than water, and any ways in which they had manipulated pills. 208 eligible patients completed the survey, 71% were female and median age was 67(IQR 63-72) years. All patients reported using at least one vehicle to aid in swallowing pills or tablets with a median 2(IQR 1-3) and maximum of 7 types. Almost all patients reported the use of water (93%). The most commonly used vehicles were tea (33%), coffee (24%), fruit juices (16%), carbonated beverages (14%) and milk (13%). Foods were also used by patients; soft foods (7%), yoghurt (6%), liquid replacement meals (3%) and liquid meals (1%). Use of alcohol was also reported by a few patients (beer (1%), wine (1%) and hard liquor (1%)). Only 2% reported that they never used vehicles other than water, the remainder reported that they did so rarely (45%), sometimes (28%) or most of the time (25%). Most had not manipulated doses (72%), but 23% broke tablets, 8% crushed tablets and put into food/drink, 7% opened capsules and mixed with food/drink and 3% dissolved tablets in a drink. Older patients use a wide range of vehicles to swallow pills and this should be considered in the development of new medicines.