Crushing tablets feeding tubes

Medications available commercially as compressed tablets can be crushed for administration through feeding tubes. After such a tablet is crushed into a fine powder, it should be mixed with 10 to 30 mL of fluid (usually warm water) for... 

Prior to administering medications through a feeding tube, the feeding tube tip location should be verified (stomach or small bowel) and the most suitable dosage form selected. Medications that should not be crushed and administered through a tube include enteric-coated or sustained-release capsules or tablets and sublingual or buccal tablets. 

There is little benefit in using a tube larger than 12 Fr if the device is conscientiously flushed after every use and liquid medicine preparations are used instead of crushed tablets. A growing number of drugs are specifically manufactured for use through feeding tubes. 

Patients and their carers insert all sorts of items down gastrostomy tubes including crushed medication. Some materials can set like concrete within the tube and it is important to give careful advice to patients and their attendants regarding the care of the tube. A growing number of medications are available in liquid form for tube feeding from specialist manufacturers (e.g. Rosemont Pharmaceuticals, Leeds, UK) and instillation of crushed tablets can and should be avoided. When tube blockage... 

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