2019 年 45 巻 5 号 p. 241-253
In order to improve the adherence to treatment with orally available commercial medicine, we newly developed a method of evaluating the bitterness intensity of various medicines quantitively by a taste sensor. Our evaluation target was amino acid products such as Aminoleban®EN, basic/acidic drugs, orally available antibiotic drugs, Chinese medicines, and orally disintegrating tablets (ODT). We were also able to find food/drink capable of reducing the bitterness of various medicines such as topiramate pediatric drugs by using various types of sensor probes. The research results and proposals described in our articles are expected to give useful information to improve the adherence to treatment with various orally available medicines.
Next, we focused on the incompatibility of ceftriaxone sodium with calcium-containing products using the ionic product of precipitation. First, appropriate volumes of 2% (w/v) calcium chloride solution were added to 0.4-2 mg/mL ceftriaxone isotonic sodium chloride solution, to make solutions with a final calcium ion concentration of 1.25 mmol/L. After agitation and storage at 37℃ for 24 h, the number of insoluble microparticles with a diameter of less than 10 μm in a mixed solution determined using a light obscuration particle counter, was increased when the ceftriaxone concentration was > 0.8 mg/mL. Nevertheless, precipitation was not recognized by visual observation. The Saturation Index (defined as the ratio of the ionic product to the solubility product constant) of the prepared mixed solution was 1.1. These results suggest that ceftriaxone should not be co-administered with calcium-containing products even if no precipitation is observed visually.