Pills are designed to be swallowed whole. Once in the stomach, the pill absorbs water and breaks down. The pill then dissolves over a period of time before being absorbed into the bloodstream and traveling throughout the body, according to Verywell Health (USA).
Chewing or crushing some medications that need to be swallowed whole can be dangerous.
Chewing, crushing, or mixing the medication with food, unless directed by your doctor, may cause the medication to not work properly. In some cases, this can be dangerous.
The first reason not to chew or crush pills is the risk of overdose. Pills are designed to disintegrate in the stomach and be absorbed slowly into the bloodstream. Chewing or crushing pills will speed up the disintegration process in the stomach, causing the drug to be absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. As a result, a large amount of the chemicals in the drug are absorbed into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, leading to overdose.
Not only that, some types of pills are also coated with a special coating to prevent the drug from disintegrating too early in the stomach. The purpose of this coating is to help the drug pass through the acidic environment of the stomach and only begin to disintegrate when it reaches the small intestine. If chewed or crushed, the coating is broken, the drug is absorbed early in the stomach and may no longer be effective.
In contrast, some medications are designed to be chewed or crushed before swallowing. These include common pediatric medications and some multivitamins. Medications designed to be chewed or crushed include aspirin and some antacids. Most are designed to be taken frequently and are for people who have difficulty swallowing.
To find out if your medicine can be chewed, crushed, or otherwise taken, read the package insert or the directions on the package. Alternatively, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
In cases where the patient cannot take pills for some reason, it may be possible to request a different type of medication that is more suitable, such as a liquid or syrup, according to Verywell Health .
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