Why Is Advil Candy Coated? - Straight Dope Message Board

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Factual Questions Lare November 17, 2010, 5:48pm 1 It seems to be generally accepted that kids shouldn’t ingest medicine like candy but Advil tablets are candy coated and shaped just like M&M’s.Is there a reason for sweetening the coating of Advil? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, but I don’t understand it. Bosstone November 17, 2010, 5:51pm 2 Are they sweet? I would assume the coating and the shape are to provide a smooth trip down the gullet. I’ve never bitten into one. gurujulp November 17, 2010, 5:53pm 3 I just noticed this… They are coated in something that tastes like straight sugar- biting into them gives you the bitter ibuprofen taste, but letting them sit in your mouth is like a hard candy.I haven’t left it there long enough to see how long it takes to dissolve, but it is VERY sweet. Lare November 17, 2010, 5:57pm 4 It’s only the coating that is sweet. I don’t bite into them.I never let them dissolve either, but I don’t wash it down without taking a moment to savor the mediciney goodness. Cagey_Drifter November 17, 2010, 6:12pm 5 Huh. My recollection is that the shell is kind of bitter and unpleasant. Jackknifed_Juggernaut November 17, 2010, 6:33pm 6 Ever since Advil came out, it has been my choice in painkiller solely due to its taste. The challenge is getting as much of the taste of the coating as possible, before getting to the bitter part. I think I have it down to a science. Another benefit to the coating is that you don’t need to take it with a liquid. It just goes right down. Zsofia November 17, 2010, 6:42pm 7 Makes them easier to dry swallow - that’s why I buy them. Markxxx November 17, 2010, 6:53pm 8 It does make it easier to swallow, fair enough, but is there any reason for being sweets. Seems like the OP is asking, if kids will eat sweet things, doesn’t this make it all the more likely a kid would eat an Advil over another pain reliever that is similarly coated but without the sweet taste. Mr.Excellent November 17, 2010, 6:58pm 9

Ever since Advil came out, it has been my choice in painkiller solely due to its taste. The challenge is getting as much of the taste of the coating as possible, before getting to the bitter part. I think I have it down to a science. Another benefit to the coating is that you don’t need to take it with a liquid. It just goes right down.

You know, not for nothing - but as an adult, you can actually purchase candy if you wish. Seriously.

bouv November 17, 2010, 7:03pm 10 Maybe someone more knowledgeable will correct me, but I’m pretty sure the coating on ibuprofen is because it can wreak havoc on your stomach lining. The coating helps it to dissolve less in the stomach, and more in the intestine.So those of you that like so tuck on them before you swallow could be doing damamge to your stomach. Hello_Again November 17, 2010, 7:21pm 11

It does make it easier to swallow, fair enough, but is there any reason for being sweets. Seems like the OP is asking, if kids will eat sweet things, doesn’t this make it all the more likely a kid would eat an Advil over another pain reliever that is similarly coated but without the sweet taste.

Ever heard the phrase “keep out of reach of children”? Medications should not be where children can get them unsupervised. A medication manufacturer is not an insurer for a parent’s negligence.

There are like a zillion other ibuprofen companies producing pills in a variety of shapes and colors. If an individual is concerned, it’s very simple - don’t keep Advil™ in the house.

Children under 12 are not supposed to take ordinary Advil anyway (without Doctor’s permission), so how would they come to know it’s delicious like candy? (which it isn’t, it’s just mildly sweet, and indescribably bitter under the coating). Children’s Advil is a liquid.

In other words, the benefits of the coating (being more pleasant and physically easier to swallow) outweigh the miniscule danger that an unsupervised child will learn of their wonders and eat 45 of them. Jackknifed_Juggernaut November 17, 2010, 7:55pm 12

You know, not for nothing - but as an adult, you can actually purchase candy if you wish. Seriously.

Yeah, but candy is notoriously ineffective in fixing hangovers.

Lare November 17, 2010, 10:35pm 13

Yeah, but candy is notoriously ineffective in fixing hangovers.

Ha! You just aren’t consuming sufficient quantities. I don’t have any problem with keeping meds away from kids. My query was just to determine why–of all the OTC medicines I’ve ever taken–this is the only one that had design input from Willy Wonka. But seriously, Advil is my favorite painkiller. This may be due to the coating in which case maybe it’s a marketing gimmick. If so, bravo. Philster November 17, 2010, 10:48pm 14 Advil brand ibuprofen is distinct in it’s coating and taste. Although some meds are coating with an enteric coating that protects them until the reach the small intestine, the Advil brand is definitely sweeter and distinctive. It might have some “go” (purpose), but it definitely has “show” (taste).I’ve not encountered another ibuprofen brand or generic make that has a similar taste, even if they were coated. Zyada November 17, 2010, 11:06pm 15 This probably goes in the “Things I had to learn the hard way” thread, but when I was a kid and had noticed that sudafed had a sweet coating, I decided to suck off all of the sweet from one.:eek:Man, the stuff underneath the candy coating was BITTER. Apex_Rogers November 17, 2010, 11:10pm 16

I’ve not encountered another ibuprofen brand or generic make that has a similar taste, even if they were coated.

At my work we have first aid stations with individually wrapped generic painkillers, antacids, etc. along with the bandages and band-aids. The generic ibuprofen offered is sweetly coated just like Advil. They are manufactured by a company called Xpect First Aid. Markxxx November 17, 2010, 11:31pm 17

You’re not wrong, but does this have and scientific back up. Why not just roll the pill in sugar or Equal?If there’s known benefit to a drug than why have it. Should a child die, 'cause someone made an error? 'Cause a parent can’t be bothered? 'Cause a parent picked up the wrong package and can’t run back to exchange it.Why make the pill look like an M&M?I am not saying you’re wrong, but why put any temptation there unless there is some solid proof this sweetness helps you.Advil is recommend for children.The Motrin site gives this:

4-5 yrs. 36-47 lbs. -> 200mg (which is one pill

It then increases the amount in increments till

11-12 yrs. 72-95 lbs. -> where you can go up to 400mg (which is 2 pills)

I understand parents and people have to take responsibility for their actions but I don’t see the point in marketing something that tastes sweet and looks like an M&M unless there’s some sound medical benefit to do so.But this is getting into GD territory, while the original question of why is advil made to look like an M&M and why is it sweet? After all we can debates the mertis of this to no end, but I’d still like to know if there is an actual benefit to it, or is it just for marketing? Hello_Again November 17, 2010, 11:55pm 18

Advil is recommend for children.

The Motrin site gives this:

What does Motrin have to do with it? Advil and Motrin are two different products. Advil is NOT recommended for children: http://www.advil.com/OurProducts/Advil.aspx if I may quote: Under 12: ask a doctor.The benefit is that Ibuprofen tastes disgusting, and if you catch a bad swallow, the flavored coating means it doesn’t make your mouth taste like death. Some people find it easier to swallow than other brands, and thus, more pleasant to use. A lot of people have trouble swallowing pills.It is a subjective benefit, one that drives brand preference. There are a million other options for people who do not perceive the benefit. Your argument is a pure OMG won’t someone think of the chiiiildren. In this case, no, I won’t. You do realize that numerous, possibly hundreds of different pills look exactly like M&Ms. KarlGauss November 18, 2010, 1:29am 19 It’s whether they LOOK like candy (<– great pic to be seen in link, with great lesson) Hirka_T_Bawa November 18, 2010, 3:11am 20