Whether it’s for your grandma who can’t swallow, or your child who hates medicine… many of us have crushed tablets thinking it’s harmless.
But did you know? Not every tablet is made for that.
Let’s break it down simply:
Tablets You Should NEVER Crush:
1. Enteric-Coated Tablets (EC)
- These are made to bypass stomach acid and dissolve in the intestine.
- Crushing them will destroy the coating = drug destroyed or irritation caused.
2. Extended-Release Tablets (XR, ER, CR, SR)
- These release the drug slowly over time.
- Crush them and boom — entire dose released at once.
- Risk of side effects or even overdose.
3. Sublingual or Buccal Tablets
- These are designed to dissolve under the tongue or in the cheek.
- Crushing them = losing the entire point of their fast action.
Tablets You May Crush:
- Plain, immediate-release tablets with no special coating. BUT — always confirm with a pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Here’s Why Crushing Can Be Dangerous:
- Taste: Some tablets are coated to mask bitterness.
- Nausea: Crushed particles can irritate the throat or stomach.
- Dose dumping: Sudden release = high peak concentration = toxic in some drugs.
- Loss of efficacy: Some drugs are unstable when exposed to moisture or acid.
Moral?
- Crushing might seem harmless,
- But sometimes it can be a silent mistake with deadly consequences.
Always ask your pharmacist before crushing!
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Resource Person: Dev Soni