28/08/2025
๐จ Crushing a tablet can turn medicine into poison. Hereโs why! ๐จ
Most of us have seen people crushing tablets so they are easier to swallow. Parents often do this for children, and many adults do it too when tablets feel โtoo big.โ
๐ But hereโs the truth: Not every medicine is safe to crush.
In fact, doing this can turn safe medicine into something dangerous.
๐ซMedicines that should never be Crushed
โก๏ธEnteric coated tablets:
๐Aspirin (EC) , omeprazole
โข Designed to dissolve in the intestine, not the stomach.
โข Crushing can destroy the protective coating and cause stomach irritation.
โก๏ธSustained Release tablets (SR, CR, XR, MR, XL, LA, Re**rd, Depot)
๐Metformin SR ,
โข These medicines dissolve slowly over hours.
โข Crushing = entire dose released at once risk of overdose and side effects.
โก๏ธSublingual / Buccal / ODT (orally disintegrating)
๐ Nitroglycerin
โข Formulated to dissolve in the mouth for rapid absorption.
โข Crushing defeats their purpose
โก๏ธ Hazardous medicines (e.g., chemotherapy drugs)
๐ Methotrexate tablets
โข Breaking them exposes toxic powder, dangerous even to the handler.
โก๏ธFilm coated tablets
๐Clarithromycin , Levocetirizine
โข They shouldn't be crushed but not always dangerous
โข So generally avoid crushing unless PHARMACIST allow
The medicines that can be crushed or split
โ๏ธ Immediate release
๐ Plain Paracetamol, Aspirin IR
โ๏ธSimple chewable or dispersible tablets
Crushing medicines may look harmless but it can be dangerous. So ALWAYS CONSULT PHARMACIST before altering any medicine ๐
