There is disclosed an improved abuse-deterrent pharmaceutical composition comprising a controlled pharmaceutical substance in a formulation comprising at least two gel-forming excipients selected from the group consisting of PEG ester,
poloxamer, water-soluble anionic
polysaccharide, and carboxymethylcellulose, and a bitter-
agonist compound selected from the group consisting of
denatonium salts (including
denatonium acetate (DA),
denatonium benzoate (DB), denatonium
chloride, denatonium citrate, denatonium maleate, denatonium saccharide, and denatonium
tartrate) chlorpheniramine, diphenidol,
famotidine, haloperidol,
quinine,
parthenolide, and
aristolochic acid. Preferably, the controlled pharmaceutical substance is an
amphetamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Preferably, the bitter
receptor agonist is a denatonium salt selected from DA, DB, denatonium
chloride, denatonium citrate, denatonium maleate, denatonium saccharide, and denatonium
tartrate provided at from about 0.5 mg per
dose administered to about 10 mg per
dose administered. There is further disclosed a use for denatonium acetate (DA) as a pharmaceutical grade
aversive agent to be added to abuse-deterrent formulations to deter snorting or smoking a controlled pharmaceutical substance at a
dose of about 0.5 mg to about 10 mg per dose.