Contents:
- Medical Video: Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules Vs Liquid | Buyer Beware!
- Why shouldn't it ruin the medicine carelessly?
- What side effects can occur if you crush the drug without the doctor's permission?
- What drugs can be crushed, and what medicines are not?
- So, what if I can't swallow medicine without being destroyed first?
Medical Video: Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules Vs Liquid | Buyer Beware!
Everyone has a variety of ways when taking medicines such as tablets, capsules or caplets. Some have to drink it with water, or tuck it into food so that the bitter taste is somewhat reduced, and there are also those who have to crush the medicine to be easily swallowed. However, do you know if you can't crush the medicineat will?
Why shouldn't it ruin the medicine carelessly?
You may not chew, grind, or destroy the drug in the form of tablets, capsules, caplets, or pills without the approval of the doctor and instructions on the information printed on the drug packaging.
Today many modern medicines are developed using techniques that can affect the way the drug works itself. Some drugs are specifically designed to be released slowly into your body for a certain period of time. While some other types of drugs have special layers so it will be difficult to destroy.
In simple terms, there are some drugs which, if destroyed, have no bad effects, but there are also some drugs which are only intended to be swallowed without the need to be crushed.Therefore, it is important for you to consult your doctor first if you want to grind and open the contents in the capsule before taking these drugs.
What side effects can occur if you crush the drug without the doctor's permission?
As the development of health technology is increasingly sophisticated, some tablets are coated with a substance that makes it easy for users to swallow and protect the drug from gastric acidity. However, some tablet drugs also have a coating that makes the drug difficult to destroy, so grinding the tablets can actually irritate your stomach lining.
In general, when you crush a tablet or open the capsule contents, all doses of the drug are released within 5 to 10 minutes. Some tablets or capsules are designed to release the dose quickly after you consume it, and grinding or opening the contents should not cause significant problems.
However, if the medication you are taking is designed to be released slowly, by grinding or opening the contents it can make the drug not work optimally, increasing the risk of early overdose and possibly other more dangerous side effects, such as the condition of patients who do not improve after consuming medicine because the effectiveness of the drug is reduced.
What drugs can be crushed, and what medicines are not?
To find out which drugs can be crushed and which are not, you need to know the type of coating that you are going to consume.
- Uncoated tablets. This medicine is made without coating, making it possible to be crushed. Because, making this type of drug is only intended to make it easier for patients to swallow.
- Medicines with sugar or film. This type of drug is coated with sugar to reduce the bitter taste so that it makes the medicine taste better. Grinding can make this drug feel very bitter and not tasty for consumption.
- Enterment layer. This type of drug should not be confused. Giving the coating to the drug aims to avoid the drug breaking inside the stomach. Grinding can irritate the stomach and cause the drug to not work optimally.
- Slow release layer. Making 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 just 1 time a day. This type of drug should not be crushed because it will accelerate the release of drugs that can be dangerous.
So, what if I can't swallow medicine without being destroyed first?
If you, your child, or someone you care about has a problem swallowing tablets, capsule pills, or caplets, let the doctor or health professional prescribe the drug. Your doctor or health professional may be able to prescribe alternative medicines available, such as liquid medicines or tablets that can be dissolved in water, which may be more suitable for your needs.
Grinding the medicine is usually recommended by the doctor as a last resort if there are no other alternatives. Later, the doctor will teach you how to destroy and take the medicine. For example, the doctor will tell you whether you have to dissolve the drug in water or mix drugs with food.
