Medication Instructions for Improving the QOL : Lugol's Solution for Internal Use via Soft Drinks Containing Ascorbic Acid

Improving the patient's QOL is an important matter for guaranteeing proper pharmacotherapy. Lugol's solution (LS, iodine content: I2 3.4%, KI 6.6%) for internal use is a useful drug for the inhibition of radioiodine uptake to the thyroid gland. However, it is difficult for patients, especially children to take this agent or ally due to its unpleasant taste, terrible smell, and peculiar color. The present study was conducted to improve both the taste and the smell of LS, by using soft drinks containing ascorbic acid. Iodine (I2) molecules in LS are reduced to iodide (F) by ascorbic acid, and the peculiar color of LS thus vanished. The amount of L (+)-ascorbic acid (VC) required to remove the color was in good agreement with the rational value. The improvement in the taste, smell, stimulation on the tongue, and the overall ease in taking the following four LS preparations, i.e., the control LS (LS-I), added by Simple Syrup solution (LS-II), by VC solution (LS-III), and by POCARISWEAT® (LS-IV), were then evaluated in the ten healthy adult volunteers. LS-II, -III and -IV, significantly improved all the elements compared with LSI, and eight volunteers selected LS-IV as the easiest preparation. The inhibitory effect of LS-IV to the radioiodine uptake to the thyroid gland was also confirmed in a patient with neuroblastoma based on a clinical diagnosis using 131I-metaiodobenzyl-guanidine scintigraphy. These results suggest that the medication method for taking LS with soft drinks containing VC improves the compliance and QOL of these patients.