In the past, it was often customary to advise patients to crush medication to ease swallowing.
Unfortunately, this practice can be dangerous, since crushing or cutting many drugs alters the delivery system.
It's important to know if medications you are taking can be cut, crushed, or chewed.
When prescribed medications, it's important to ask your physician or pharmacist if pills must be taken whole.
Additionally, it is important to take pills sitting upright, with at least 15ml.
(½ cup) of water, and never immediately before or while lying down.
Coating pills or capsules in yogurt or honey may make them easier to swallow A common scenario in the hospital, may be giving a patient nighttime sedation while the patient is lying down in bed.
The pt.
may appear to have no effect from the medication.
Eventually, the pt.
will fall asleep and remain lethargic through the next morning.
It is often not recognized by the medical personnel that the drug did not reach the intended destination for hours.
In addition to complaints of swallowing food or pills, many patients with Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders, such as Parknson's, ALS, or myopathy, may also have esophageal dysmotility and delayed gastric emptying, which will contribute to episodes of acid reflux (GER), and even aspiration pneumonia.
In frail or elderly individuals, swallowing problems may actually be a side effect of certain medications Any persistent swallowing problem should be reported to your physician.
He or she may request a consult with a speech pathologist who can conduct a thorough swallowing assessment, often including x-ray images to assist with identifying the cause of your problem, as well as possible treatments.
To Summarize: Take your medications on time, even when in the hospital; take your medications sitting as upright as possible; take your medications with at least ½ cup of water; Report changes in your swallowing to your physician.
Unfortunately, this practice can be dangerous, since crushing or cutting many drugs alters the delivery system.
It's important to know if medications you are taking can be cut, crushed, or chewed.
When prescribed medications, it's important to ask your physician or pharmacist if pills must be taken whole.
Additionally, it is important to take pills sitting upright, with at least 15ml.
(½ cup) of water, and never immediately before or while lying down.
Coating pills or capsules in yogurt or honey may make them easier to swallow A common scenario in the hospital, may be giving a patient nighttime sedation while the patient is lying down in bed.
The pt.
may appear to have no effect from the medication.
Eventually, the pt.
will fall asleep and remain lethargic through the next morning.
It is often not recognized by the medical personnel that the drug did not reach the intended destination for hours.
In addition to complaints of swallowing food or pills, many patients with Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders, such as Parknson's, ALS, or myopathy, may also have esophageal dysmotility and delayed gastric emptying, which will contribute to episodes of acid reflux (GER), and even aspiration pneumonia.
In frail or elderly individuals, swallowing problems may actually be a side effect of certain medications Any persistent swallowing problem should be reported to your physician.
He or she may request a consult with a speech pathologist who can conduct a thorough swallowing assessment, often including x-ray images to assist with identifying the cause of your problem, as well as possible treatments.
To Summarize: Take your medications on time, even when in the hospital; take your medications sitting as upright as possible; take your medications with at least ½ cup of water; Report changes in your swallowing to your physician.