Does ICC participate in clinical drugs trials?
Painter: Many of the clinics that refer to us are participating in clinical drug trials. Children participating in a drug trial undergo monitoring, testing, and supply of an experimental drug through their outpatient clinic and we maintain that treatment here. LS: When I search the Government Clinical Trial database, I find loads and loads of studies being done on children. Painter: There are loads and loads of studies being done on children. LS: I know that the medications are hard to take and have side effects. How do you get a child to take the drugs? Painter: One of the issues with children is that they can’t swallow large pills. Many of the meds are horse pill size and come in multiple pills. The alternative liquid or powder formulations are not very palatable. They have a significant, lingering, bitter taste. We mix them with chocolate syrup. Some children can take this, others can’t. For some cases, it’s better administered through a Gastric tube. LS: Is that the nose or stomach
