As we age, our swallowing capability decreases to some extent. In some cases, a health condition, such as narrowing of the esophagus, can also lead to this problem. Hence, crushing the pills before taking them seems like a sound solution for everyone in these aspects.
However, there’s a hitch.
Crushing a medication can decrease its overall effectiveness to some extent. In addition, sometimes, it might also affect your health adversely if you are not careful enough.
That’s not all, though.
Even if you are taking a crushable medicine, you should use a medical-grade tool for your purpose. Otherwise, the issue of having an overdose will be more likely for you.
This article will explore the drugs that you should not crush at all. Besides, you will also learn about some tried-and-tested methods of macerating pills.
So, without making any further ado, let’s begin our journey right away!
Pills That You Should Not Crush
If you are having trouble with taking a pill, make sure to use Gloup swallowing gel. This way, it will be easier for you to consume the medicine in a single gulp and be done with it.
In any case, let’s get back to our topic and discuss the pills that you should not crush. Here’s a descriptive list that might help you out.
Sustained-Release Pills
As the name indirectly implies, sustained-release pills must be absorbed gradually rather than all at once. Hence, if you crush them, the elements of the drug will be discharged all of a sudden. It may lower the effectiveness of the medicine to some extent. Consuming the initial high levels of the drug can also increase the severity of its side effects.
Enteric-Coated Medicines
The enteric-coated drugs usually come with a coating to lower stomach irritation or the severity of the ulcer. It generally dissolves gradually as it passes by your gastrointestinal tract and covers the whole stomach lining with the special layer. Hence, if you do not swallow them as a whole, the coating will not work in the proper manner.
Opioid Drugs
The opioid drugs, in essence, tend to have a high potential for addiction. Due to this reason, they are usually designed at a steady and controlled rate. Therefore, if you end up crushing them, the elements of the pill will be released too quickly. This, in turn, will intensify its effects, such as the feelings of euphoria and pain relief.
Crushing Pills Appropriately: A Definitive Guide
The packaging of many pills comes with a “do not crush” label stuck on them. Thus, if you don’t see any such warning on your medication, make sure to ask your doctor about it.
If you can crush a pill, we would ask you to follow these three safe methods –
Pill Splitter
There are certain medicines that you cannot crush. However, it is possible to split them equally before consumption. Hence, we would ask you to use a pill splitter for this purpose. These items are pretty inexpensive and can help you cut the drug neatly in quarters or halves.
Pill Crusher
A pill crusher helps you crush a pill by grinding it to a fine powder. This way, you can either take it with your food or consume the same with water. However, most pill crushers are hand-held devices. Hence, if you are suffering from nerve issues, make sure to ask someone else to crush the pills.
Mortar And Pestle
Finally, if you want to go for something traditional when it comes to pill crushing, you can always opt for a mortar and pestle. It can seem a little challenging to use initially. However, it offers the best results nonetheless. Make sure to use this device only for crushing your pills to avoid contamination.
A Final Recap
Crushing pills is, in essence, only half of the battle. Aside from this, you will also need to know if and which food you can mix it up with. For example, some medications can be taken with fruit juice, water, applesauce, etc.
However, we would ask you to talk to your doctor before taking a step in this instance. This way, you can avoid any potential hazardous interactions and keep the effectiveness of the pill intact.
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