Table 1 Class of excipients in pediatric oral liquid medicines and compliance status

Coloring agents/dyes

Tartrazine

1

Not stated

0/1

25 mg/kg

Cannot be determined

Sunset yellow

8

Not stated

0/8

0.3 mg/kg

Cannot be determined

Preservatives

Methylparaben

Proplyparaben

11

(As parabens)

0.045–0.18%

0.011–0.02%

3/11

5 mg/kg

Appropriate

Sodium Benzoate

10

0.8% w/v

2/10

10 mg/kg

Appropriate

Solvents/co-solvents

Ethanol

42

1–90% v/v

26/42

5 g/day

Inappropriate

Propylene Glycol

7

Not stated

0/7

10 mg/kg

Cannot be determined

Surfactants

Polysorbate 80

2

Not stated

0/2

10 mg/kg

Cannot be determined

Sweetners

Aspartame

2

0.03 g/5 ml

2/2

< 10 mg/kg

Appropriate

Saccharin Sodium

6

5 mg/5 ml

1/6

2.5 mg/kg

Too high for infants

Sorbitol

8

1 g–1.06 g/5 ml

2/8

0.3 mg/kg

Too high for infants and neonates

Sucrose

11

1.7 g–3.7 g/5 ml

5/11

< 25 g/day

Too high for infants and neonates when added to sugar from foods