Why do pills taste bad?

Pills often taste bad due to the ingredients used in their formulation, including active pharmaceutical compounds and excipients that can have a bitter or unpleasant flavor. Additionally, many medications are designed to be swallowed whole, so they may not be coated with flavor-masking agents. The coating, if present, can wear off in the mouth, exposing the bitter taste. Lastly, some medications are intentionally made unpalatable to discourage misuse or accidental ingestion by children.