Table of contents:
- Why can't you crush the medicine carelessly?
- What are the side effects that can occur if you crush the medicine without your doctor's permission?
- What medicine can be crushed, and what medicine can not?
- So, what if I can't swallow the medicine without crushing it first?
Everyone has different ways when they take tablets, capsules, or caplets. Some have to drink it with water, or tuck it into food so that the bitterness is slightly less, and some have to crush the medicine so that it is easy to swallow. However, do you know that you should not crush the medicine at will?
Why can't you crush the medicine carelessly?
You may not chew, crush, or crush the drug, whether it is in the form of tablets, capsules, caplets, or pills without the approval of a doctor and the instructions on the information listed on the drug packaging.
Currently, many modern medicines are developed using techniques that can affect the way the drug works. Some medications are specifically designed to be released slowly into your body over a period of time. Meanwhile, some other types of drugs have a special coating so that it will be difficult to destroy.
In simple terms, there are some drugs that if crushed have no bad effect, but there are also some drugs which in their manufacture are only intended to be swallowed without needing to be crushed. Therefore, it is important for you to consult a doctor first if you want to crush and open the contents in the capsule before taking these drugs.
What are the side effects that can occur if you crush the medicine without your doctor's permission?
As health technology has become increasingly sophisticated, some tablets are coated with a substance that makes it easier for the user to swallow and protects the drug from stomach acidity. However, some tablets also have a coating that makes them difficult to break down, so grinding the tablets can actually irritate the lining of your stomach.
In general, when you crush a tablet or open the contents of the capsule, the entire dose of the drug is released within 5 to 10 minutes. Some tablets or capsules are designed to release a dose of medication quickly after you take them, and grinding or opening the contents shouldn't cause any major problems.
However, if the medicine you are taking is designed to be released slowly, grinding or opening its contents can prevent the drug from working optimally, increasing the risk of an early overdose and the possibility of other more dangerous side effects, such as the patient's condition that does not improve after taking it. medicine because the effectiveness of the drug is reduced.
What medicine can be crushed, and what medicine can not?
To find out which drugs can be crushed and which are not, you need to know the type of drug coating you are going to consume.
- Uncoated tablets. This drug is made without a coating, allowing it to be crushed. The reason is, the manufacture of this type of drug is only intended to make it easier for patients to swallow.
- Medicines with icing or film. This type of medicine is coated with sugar to reduce the bitter taste so that it makes the medicine taste better. Scouring can make this medicine taste very bitter and unpleasant to consume.
- Enterion layer. This type of drug should not be confused. The coating of the drug aims to prevent the drug from breaking down in the stomach. Scouring can irritate the stomach and cause the drug to not work optimally.
- Layers release slowly. The manufacture of this drug aims to slow down the release of active substances in the drug, so that it will reduce the frequency of drug use, for example from 3 times a day to only 1 time a day. This type of drug should not be crushed because it will speed up the release of drugs that can be dangerous.
So, what if I can't swallow the medicine without crushing it first?
If you, your child, or someone you care about has problems swallowing tablets, capsule pills, or caplets, tell the doctor or health care professional who prescribed the medication. Your doctor or health care professional may be able to prescribe an alternative to an available medication, such as a water-soluble liquid or tablet, which may be more appropriate to your needs.
Crushing the drug is usually recommended by doctors as a last resort if there are no other alternatives. Later, the doctor will teach you how to destroy and take the drug. For example, the doctor will tell you whether you should dissolve the medicine in water or mix the medicine with food.
