Liquid Medication Is Better Than Crushing Tablets

Many over the counter medicines now come in liquid form - liquid paracetamol, liquid aspirin and liquid ibuprofen are not just for children! It is also possible to get many more liquid drugs on prescription than it used to be. Many women find it easier to swallow daily tamoxifen over their five-year treatment period as a liquid. Tablets for patients with depression can also be successfully replaced by liquid prozac.

Specialist pharmaceutical companies such as Rosemont Pharmaceuticals have spent years perfecting liquid medication. Their liquid drugs currently include:

* Metformin - for type 2 diabetes.
* Dexamethasone - a potent anti-inflammatory for rheumatoid arthritis.
* Metoclopramide - an anti-sickness medication.
* Dipyridamole - a blood thinner used to prevent strokes.
* Ranitidine - for reducing stomach acid and treating ulcers.

Why do people need liquid medicine?

The simple answer is because they cannot or will not swallow tablets. Dysphagia can be a problem for the elderly, for anyone with a neurological problem or for patients whose oesophagus has been damaged by acid reflux. Many younger people - up to 40% of adults - develop anxiety about swallowing tablets, particularly if the pills are large and need to be taken regularly. Well-meaning relatives, carers and anxious patients may crush up tablets to make them easier to swallow without realising that liquid drugs would be far better.

What liquid medications are available?

Many over the counter medicines now come in liquid form - liquid paracetamol, liquid aspirin and liquid ibuprofen are not just for children! It is also possible to get many more liquid drugs on prescription than it used to be. Many women find it easier to swallow daily tamoxifen over their five-year treatment period as a liquid. Tablets for patients with depression can also be successfully replaced by liquid prozac.

What's wrong with crushing tablets?

Some tablets are designed to release their active drug over a period of several hours; crushing the tablets causes the drug to be released into the bloodstream very quickly, causing a sudden rush in blood levels. After a couple of hours, the amount of drug in the blood then drops to very low levels. In the case of a drug such as metformin taken by patients with type 2 diabetes, this means that the overall benefit of the drug in stabilising blood sugar is greatly reduced. Taking a regular dose of liquid metformin avoids this problem.

Some tablets have a special coating that prevents them releasing their contents in the stomach. They are protected until they reach the intestines, where their active ingredient can be absorbed without being destroyed by the action of stomach acid. Crushing tablets allows this destructive process to take place very rapidly, as soon as the fragments enter the stomach, so the patient gets no benefit from their medication at all. Liquid drugs that could be harmed by acid are specially formulated to resist stomach acid.

Is a liquid drug just as good as a tablet?

Liquid formulations are carefully designed to give the same effect as swallowing the entire pill all at once, but without the trauma. A liquid medicine contains the same active ingredient, at the equivalent dose, and is easy on the taste buds. This is one of the greatest technical challenges - producing a liquid drug that tastes pleasant takes a great deal of skill and experience.
Some tablets are designed to release their active drug over a period of several hours; crushing the tablets causes the drug to be released into the bloodstream very quickly, causing a sudden rush in blood levels. After a couple of hours, the amount of drug in the blood then drops to very low levels. In the case of a drug such as metformin taken by patients with type 2 diabetes, this means that the overall benefit of the drug in stabilising blood sugar is greatly reduced. Taking a regular dose of liquid metformin avoids this problem.

Some tablets have a special coating that prevents them releasing their contents in the stomach. They are protected until they reach the intestines, where their active ingredient can be absorbed without being destroyed by the action of stomach acid. Crushing tablets allows this destructive process to take place very rapidly, as soon as the fragments enter the stomach, so the patient gets no benefit from their medication at all. Liquid drugs that could be harmed by acid are specially formulated to resist stomach acid.

About the Author:
Do you suffer from dysphagia? You may be surprised to discover that there are liquid medicines available that do not involve swallowing tablets as part of your treatment. You can find lots more information about the different medication available if you suffer from swallowing difficulties at www.rosemontpharma.com

Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Tags: liquid

, medicines

, medication

, dysphagia

, swallowing

, difficulties

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