Many individuals do the unimaginable in relation to taking their medicines. As an illustration, some folks chew their medication that are supposed to be swallowed with water; whereas some people use delicate drinks for his or her medication!
Based on pharmacists, when folks chew medication which can be designed to be swallowed, it not solely impacts the efficacy of the medication but additionally worsens the diploma of their unwanted effects.
Specialists say for a number of causes some tablets shouldn’t be crushed or chewed.
“Most significantly, doing so might end in dose dumping; that is when the physique in a short time absorbs a considerable amount of a drug. One consequence of dose dumping is an overdose of the drug, which might result in demise”, in keeping with pharmacists.
A former Nationwide President, Affiliation of Neighborhood Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Adekola, mentioned folks ought to take medication primarily based on instruction by a pharmacist and never by their very own selection.
Based on him, chewing or swallowing medication with out water impacts their dissolution within the abdomen in addition to their absorption within the small gut, thereby making them much less efficient.
Adekola, who spoke in an unique interview with PUNCH HealthWise mentioned chewing enteric-coated medication might worsen their unwanted effects resembling ulcers as a result of they weren’t meant to be chewed.
The pharmacists defined, “The essence of utilizing water to swallow medication is to ease transportation to the abdomen the place they are going to dissolve after which to the small gut the place the absorption happens.
“The pH of the abdomen is acidic, so there are particular varieties of medication like septrin that require loads of water when taking them. If you’ll swallow medication, notably capsules with out water, you run the danger of the drug sticking on the throat and it will possibly trigger choking.
“Other than water-aiding transportation of medication to the abdomen, failure to make use of water to swallow medication impacts their dissolution within the abdomen and this could create one other downside.”
The UK’s Royal Pharmaceutical Society says it is very important recognise the potential penalties of manipulating a medicinal product.
Based on the physique, altering how a dosage kind is offered can alter its absorption traits, end in medication instability, produce native irritant results, and trigger failure to succeed in the location of motion.
“It might produce occupational well being and issues of safety and will end in a preparation with an unacceptable style”, the physique added.
Adekola additional famous that chewing tablets with out water additionally had its implications although they have been meant to be chewed.
“ Now, while you chew, it simply disintegrates, the drug has not dissolved. So, it nonetheless needs to be transported to the abdomen with water the place the right dissolution will happen.
“ This dissolution of the drug can be hampered if not taken with water”, he mentioned.
Giving additional perception, the pharmacist famous, “If the drug isn’t dissolved, it cannot be absorbed. Medication depend upon water for dissolution. It’s going to hamper the dissolution. Notice that after chewing the medication, some are left within the mouth, and on the finish of the day, you aren’t going to have a complete part of the drug delivered to the abdomen.
“ It’s solely those who the saliva can push to the abdomen that can be accessible for absorption. This may have an effect on the efficacy of medication and the affected person might not get the complete focus.
“Each drug has a proportion that ought to get into the system for it to be efficient. If medication are stocked within the mouth after chewing, some proportion of the medication is not going to get to the abdomen the place they’re purported to be absorbed.”
Adekola mentioned the dangers of chewing medication are extra with sure enteric-coated medication that often trigger issues once they get to the abdomen.
“ In the event that they get to the abdomen, they have an inclination to create issues like ulcers, for instance, aspirin. We nonetheless attempt to use these medication due to their usefulness.
“Typically, one of many ways in which they’re being formulated is to make them enterically coated. What which means is that they’re protected and shielded from the abdomen acid. So, they’re allowed to solely disintegrate after they depart the abdomen.
“Once you swallow them, they won’t dissolve within the abdomen compartments relatively they are going to nonetheless be transported right down to the small gut earlier than the dissolution will happen. That means, you’ll overcome the unwanted effects of induction of ulcers.
“Now, when you chew them even if they’re bitter, you’re aiding their disintegration and dissolution, thereby rising the probabilities and diploma of their unwanted effects”, he mentioned.
The pharmacist reiterated that enterically coated medication will not be anticipated to dissolve even within the abdomen and subsequently, can’t be chewed.
He suggested sufferers to be rational about drug use and to at all times take medication primarily based on prescriptions and directions from healthcare professionals.
Additionally talking, one other group pharmacist, Biola Paul-Ozieh, blamed the irrational use of medication on unrestricted entry to medicines which she added contributed to the rise in drug abuse amongst youngsters within the nation.
She mentioned, “Mother and father and guardians have a job to play in guaranteeing that younger Nigerians don’t abuse medication as a result of it predisposes them to continual ailments. They need to be sure that all medicines are purchased from pharmacies with the ‘Inexperienced Cross’ pharmacy emblem the place they are going to be guided on the utilization.”
In the meantime, Sheila Rivera, a pharmacist with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centres, United States, Trexie Olivar, warns that ‘dry swallowing’ remedy can pose a possible choking hazard, and that there are different risks to this follow that folks won’t even understand.
“A capsule making contact with the liner of the esophagus — the muscular tube that connects your mouth to your abdomen — might trigger tissue harm and irritation,” Olivar said in an internet platform, Sharp Healthcare.
This may increasingly trigger issue swallowing, bleeding, heartburn, or chest ache, which can result in extra issues if left untreated.
Virtually any sort of drug may be dangerous if not swallowed appropriately, however Olivar identified that pain-relieving remedy resembling aspirin and ibuprofen; dietary supplements resembling potassium chloride and vitamin C; and a few antibiotics are among the many worst culprits.
Rivera and Olivar advocate consuming a full 8-ounce glass of water when taking medicines. Olivar mentioned a full glass of water is finest as a result of taking only one or two sips also can trigger hurt.
“Not consuming sufficient water can also trigger throat irritation and, in some instances, stop remedy from working correctly,” she added.