Patient pill swallowing preferences
For many people, swallowing pills, tablets or capsules is a challenge that may prevent them from adhering to recommended therapy.
A patient survey supports patient preference for small, easy-to-swallow soft gel capsules. STAVZOR soft gel capsules are up to 40% smaller than Depakote® or Depakote ER® (divalproex sodium)* tablets (500 mg dosage formulation).
Pill swallowing difficulty
Noncompliance is a particular concern for patients with chronic neurologic disorders.
Many people have difficulty swallowing pills, according to a survey of swallowing difficulty with oral medications in adults in the United States:
- Forty percent of individuals who have taken oral medication reported difficulty in swallowing pills.
- Eighty-four percent reported they hesitate taking medication due to pill size.
- Fewer than 25% discussed the problem with a healthcare professional.
Study design: Harris Interactive investigators conducted online interviews with 679 adults ages 18 and older. The study population was weighted to ensure a sample representative of the general adult population. The most frequently reported diagnosed conditions were allergies, hypertension, and arthritis. Conditions were generally treated with oral prescription or over-the-counter medications. Survey included 66 questions, some of which were excluded for individual participants based upon response.
Patient preference for soft gel capsules
Clear oval soft gel capsules like STAVZOR help meet patient's needs:
- When asked to view various dosage forms, 71% (86% female) of consumers preferred clear oval soft gel capsules.
- A patient survey confirms that 83% of Depakote/Depakote ER* patients would prefer soft gel capsules like STAVZOR as long as it was equal in effectiveness and side effects.
- 85% of Depakote/Depakote ER patients would have preferred that their physician would have prescribed a soft gel capsule like STAVZOR if it had been available when they started therapy.
Adapted from JonesWJ, Francis JJ.
Pills shown were photographed together, then proportionally reduced to fit into the chart. The clear, oval softgel is
STAVZOR(valproic acid) Delayed Release Capsules, the oblong compressed tablet is Depakote®. Both were used in the
study. Other dosage forms, except the opaque oblong softgel, are OTC products comparable to those used in the study.
Study design: Adults aged 25-60+ examined 8 unidentified dosage forms laid out on a sample board (they
were not allowed to ingest any product). They were asked to describe each dosage form, then rank it in terms
of ease of swallowing, time to onset, length of action, and other criteria. Respondents could choose more than
one dosage form. Results for ease of swallowing are shown in column 2. Overall result across all criteria is
shown in column 3.
Help your patients save money on their small, easy-to-swallow STAVZOR soft gel capsules. The STAVZOR Easy Save Pharmacy Card will save up to $50 on every STAVZOR prescription. (Certain restrictions apply.) Direct your patients to sign up to receive their free STAVZOR co-pay benefits cards.
*Depatoke/Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) are registered trademarks of Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL.
