# Why is Advil candy coated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997 "2010-11-17T17:48:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/1 "2010-11-17T17:48:49Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/2 "2010-11-17T17:51:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/3 "2010-11-17T17:53:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/4 "2010-11-17T17:57:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/5 "2010-11-17T18:12:58Z")
Huh. My recollection is that the shell is kind of bitter and unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/6 "2010-11-17T18:33:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/7 "2010-11-17T18:42:27Z")
Makes them easier to dry swallow - that’s why I buy them. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/8 "2010-11-17T18:53:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/9 "2010-11-17T18:58:35Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > 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. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/10 "2010-11-17T19:03:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/11 "2010-11-17T19:21:25Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > 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. 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/12 "2010-11-17T19:55:54Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > 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.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/13 "2010-11-17T22:35:04Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/14 "2010-11-17T22:48:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/15 "2010-11-17T23:06:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Apex\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Apex\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apex_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/16 "2010-11-17T23:10:58Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/17 "2010-11-17T23:31:05Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > 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. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/18 "2010-11-17T23:55:45Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > 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](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. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/19 "2010-11-18T01:29:46Z")
[It’s whether they LOOK like candy](http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/168/12/1539) (\<– great pic to be seen in link, with great lesson) ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997/20 "2010-11-18T03:11:35Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > [It’s whether they LOOK like candy](http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/168/12/1539) (\<– great pic to be seen in link, with great lesson) Even better [poster](http://zoomdoggle.com/wp-content/uploads/candy-or-medicine-20090914-110130.jpg). I saw this posted at the hospital I did a rotation at recently. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-advil-candy-coated/560997.md?page=2)