Is Medical Gum the Future of Taking Your Pills?

We chew gum to freshen our breath, but could we also use it as a way to administer medicine?

That’s the idea behind MedGum, a concept that would replace your swallowed pill with a chewable gum tablet.

The benefit would be faster absorption of medicine through chewing, and for those adverse to swallowing pills.

The work of designer Chiara Torterolo, MedGum was her Diploma project for her Masters of Product Design at ÉCAL. We think it’s a solid idea, one that might make taking medicine easier and more effectively for some.

There are some downsides though, namely the disposal of the gum afterwards, a problem that traditional pills don’t have. We also wonder if there’d be too bitter a taste for the gum’s flavor to overcome.

Either way, we like the creativity behind it, and imagine Torterolo will have a strong future in product design. See more of her work on the University’s website.

“Chewing gums are recognised by scientists and medical researchers as a highly effective alternative to conventional drug administration methods like pills, tablets and capsules. MedGum is a research-driven project that integrates food production, medical research and design, to develop a range of functional gums with additional health benefits.

By designing the gum and its structure, it becomes possible to enhance the effectiveness of the medication, improving the speed and dynamics of absorption of active ingredients. Tailored to specific diseases such as stomach disorders, allergies, migraines and oral injuries, each MedGum, together with a new packaging, offers patients a discreet and convenient way of taking their medication.”

–Chiara Torterolo