Claims for Patent: 5,962,461

Summary for Patent: 5,962,461

Title:	Pleasant-tasting aqueous liquid composition of a bitter-tasting drug
Abstract:	A liquid pharmaceutical composition is contemplated that comprises a pharmaceutically effective amount of a bitter tasting drug dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium that is free of ethanol. That aqueous medium consists essentially of water, about 5 to about 30 weight percent polyvinylpyrrolidone, about 35 to about 55 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol, about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent ammonium glycyrrhizinate and one or more flavorants. The liquid composition is transparent and has a pleasant taste. The bitter tasting drugs claimed herein are vitamin and mineral preparations, trimethoprim, and guaifenesin.
Inventor(s):	Anaebonam; Aloysius O. (Burlington, MA), Clemente; Emmett (Manchester, MA), Fawzy; Abdel A. (Groton, MA)
Assignee:	Ascent Pediatrics, Inc. (Billerica, MA)
Application Number:	09/011,156
Patent Claims:	1. A liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a bitter-tasting drug dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium that is free of ethanol, said aqueous medium consisting essentially of water, about 5 to about 30 weight percent polyvinylpyrrolidone, about 35 to about 55 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol, about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent ammonium glycyrrhizinate and one or more flavorants, said liquid composition being transparent and having a pleasant taste when administered orally, wherein said bitter-tasting drug is selected from the group consisting of a vitamin preparation and minerals. 2. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 wherein said polyvinylpyrrolidone is present at about 7 to about 15 weight percent. 3. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 wherein said C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol is present as a mixture of C.sub.3 polyols and C.sub.6 polyols. 4. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 wherein said ammonium glycyrrhizinate is present at a weight ratio to said drug of about 1:50 to 2:1. 5. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claims 1 wherein said drug is present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent. 6. A liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of a bitter-tasting drug dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium that is free of ethanol, said aqueous medium consisting essentially of water, about 7 to about 15 weight percent polyvinylpyrrolidone, about 45 to about 55 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol, about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent ammonium glycyrrhizinate and one or more flavorants, said ammonium glycyrrhizinate being present at a weight ratio to said drug of about 1:50 to about 1:10 and said liquid composition being transparent and having a pleasant taste when administered orally, wherein said bitter-tasting drug is selected from the group consisting of a vitamin preparation or minerals. 7. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 6 wherein said C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol is present as a mixture of C.sub.3 polyols and C.sub.6 polyols. 8. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7 wherein the weight ratio of said C.sub.3 polyol to said C.sub.6 polyol is about 1:4 to about 3:5. 9. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 6 wherein polyol other than a C.sub.6 polyol constitutes less than about 5 weight percent of said composition. 10. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 6 wherein said drug is present in an amount of about one to about 3 weight percent. 11. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 6 wherein said C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol is present at about 45 to about 55 weight percent. 12. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 6 wherein said ammonium glycyrrhizinate is present at a weight ratio to said drug of about 1:50 to about 1:10. 13. A liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of trimethoprim dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium that is free of ethanol, said aqueous medium consisting essentially of water, about 7 to about 15 weight percent polyvinylpyrrolidone, about 45 to about 55 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol, about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent ammonium glycyrrhizinate and one or more flavorants, said liquid composition being transparent and having a pleasant taste when administered orally. 14. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 13 wherein said C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol is present as a mixture of C.sub.3 polyols and C.sub.6 polyols. 15. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 wherein said ammonium glycyrrhizinate is present at a weight ratio to said trimethoprim of about 1:50 to 1:10. 16. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 13 wherein said trimethoprim is present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent. 17. A liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of trimethoprim dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium that is free of ethanol, said aqueous medium consisting essentially of water, about 7 to about 15 weight percent polyvinylpyrrolidone, about 45 to about 55 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol, about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent ammonium glycyrrhizinate and one or more flavorants, said ammonium glycyrrhizinate being present at a weight ratio to said trimethoprim of about 1:50 to about 1:10 and said liquid composition being transparent and having a pleasant taste when administered orally. 18. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 17 wherein said C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol is present as a mixture of C.sub.3 polyols and C.sub.6 polyols. 19. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 17 wherein the weight ratio of said C.sub.3 polyol to said C.sub.6 polyol is about 1:4 to about 3:5. 20. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 17 wherein a polyol other than a C.sub.6 polyol constitutes less than about 5 weight percent of said composition. 21. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 17 wherein said trimethoprim is present in an amount of about one to about 3 weight percent. 22. A liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of guaifenesin dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium that is free of ethanol, said aqueous medium consisting essentially of water, about 7 to about 15 weight percent polyvinylpyrrolidone, about 45 to about 55 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol, about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent ammonium glycyrrhizinate and one or more flavorants, said liquid composition being transparent and having a pleasant taste when administered orally. 23. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 22 wherein said C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol is present as a mixture of C.sub.3 polyols and C.sub.6 polyols. 24. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 22 wherein said ammonium glycyrrhizinate is present at a weight ratio to said guaifenesin of about 1:50 to 1:10. 25. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 22 wherein said guaifenesin is present in an amount of about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent. 26. A liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of guaifenesin dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous medium that is free of ethanol, said aqueous medium consisting essentially of water, about 7 to about 15 weight percent polyvinylpyrrolidone, about 45 to about 55 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol, about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent ammonium glycyrrhizinate and one or more flavorants, said ammonium glycyrrhizinate being present at a weight ratio to said guaifenesin of about 1:50 to about 1:10 and said liquid composition being transparent and having a pleasant taste when administered orally. 27. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 26 wherein said C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 polyol is present as a mixture of C.sub.3 polyols and C.sub.6 polyols. 28. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 26 wherein the weight ratio of said C.sub.3 polyol to said C.sub.6 polyol is about 1:4 to about 3:5. 29. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 6 wherein polyol other than a C.sub.6 polyol constitutes less than about 5 weight percent of said composition. 30. The liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 26 wherein said guaifenesin is present in an amount of about one to about 3 weight percent.