IPH - Hour 3 - Routes or Administration

Solid Oral Medications

The most common form of oral medications is the compressed tablet. The compressed powder contains the drug. Solid oral medications are swallowed.

The typical tablet is a discus. Not all tablets are flat spheres. Tablets can also be square, oblong, star, or any other shape.

Scored Tablet. A scored tablet contains a slight indentation that makes splitting the tablet in half more precise.

Enteric Coated Tablet. Medications that can cause stomach irritation, like aspirin, may have an enteric coating. This allows the medication to dissolve in the small intestine rather than in the stomach. Enteric coated tablets should not be split, crushed, or chewed.

Buffered Tablet. A medication that causes irritation of the stomach lining may have a buffered coating. This coating raises the pH of the stomach to become less acid. Unlike enteric coated medications, buffered coated medications are still dissolved in the stomach.

Layered Tablet. Some medications have layered coatings. These layers allow the medication to dissolve over an extended period of several hours. This delayed absorption results in a slow and sustained release of the medication. Generally, layered medications bear identifying suffixes such as LA (Long Acting), ER (Extended Release), XL (Extended Release), SA (Sustained Action). Other not so evident suffixes include CD, CR, and TD. Scoring, crushing, or chewing a layered tablet will cause the full dosage being absorbed in a short amount of time, resulting in an overdose.

Lozenge. Lozenges are meant to dissolve in the mouth and then slowly swallowed. A cough drop is a form of a lozenge. Sometimes lozenges are meant to coat the throat as they are swallowed. Lozenges may be chewed, but should not be be swallowed whole or in pieces.

Another common form of solid oral medications is the capsule. Capsules are gelatinous containers medication inside. The medication may be in liquid, powder, or bead form. The capsule is swallowed, the container dissolves, and the medication is released.

Capsule. Powder is released when the capsule is dissolved by the gastric secretions. The medication is readily absorbed just like the compressed pill.

Timed-Release Capsule. Timed-release capsules are similar to the layered tablet. Individual beads have different coatings, resulting in delayed absorption. Timed-release capsules may be opened and sprinkled over apple sauce or pudding for easier swallowing, but they should never be crushed or dissolved in liquid.

Gelcap. A gelcap, sometimes called a softgel, is a sealed, soft gelatinous capsule that contains liquid. Some capsules may be punctured to allow the liquid medicine to be aspirated. Check with a pharmacist before doing so, though, as not all gelcaps should be pierced.

In the Mouth, but DO NOT SWALLOW

Some medications are placed in the mouth, but aren't meant to be swallowed. Sublingual tablets and gels are placed and dissolved under the tongue. Buccal tablets and gels are placed between the gumline and cheek to be dissolved. Both sublingual medications and buccal medications are absorbed through the oral mucous membranes.

Review Content