Bitter Pills

[tarak]

Why do most of the prescription medicines(pills) taste bitter? Is this due to some mandatory ingredient or a historical tradition?

[freeztar]

Singapore Science Centre: ScienceNet|Life Sciences|Pharmacology/ Medicine/ Disease

[tarak]

Thanks for the link..

 

Yes its true that most of the secondary metabolites which act as defence compounds have bitter taste, but the modern allopathic medicines are manufactured through chemical processes and I think the base substances (Calcium based compunds,etc.) actually give the taste.

(Like in many of the cough syrups..sorbitol gives the sweet taste)

As per the article .....Does that mean that ,the active ingredients of most of the pills are made of alkaloids,peptides,etc..like chemical compounds(their synthetic analogues)?

[freeztar]

Yes its true that most of the secondary metabolites which act as defence compounds have bitter taste, but the modern allopathic medicines are manufactured through chemical processes and I think the base substances (Calcium based compunds,etc.) actually give the taste.

 

AFAIK, calcium compounds are essentially flavorless (eg calcium carbonate). Bitterness is usually associated with acidic compounds and calcium ions are intrinsically basic. (chemistry is not my strong suit, so my info might be inaccurate)

 

Does that mean that ,the active ingredients of most of the pills are made of alkaloids,peptides,etc..like chemical compounds(their synthetic analogues)?

 

Yep. At least, from what that source is saying.