The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for oral administration suitable for the preparation of a ready-to-use suspension comprising coated particles comprising an active substance having an unpleasant and/or bitter taste, such as clarithromycin, and a suspension base comprising an osmotically active substance capable of providing a high osmolality to the admixture of the suspension base with an aqueous suspending medium in the ready-to-use suspension. Said ready-to-use suspension maintains its palatability over a prolonged period of time by those defined osmotic conditions.