Does “chewable” mean must be chewed or can be chewed? There is some clinical debate.
Let’s cross reference our “chewable” inquiry over to injectable medication(s).
Can injectable drugs be given by any other route than injection? Yes.Injectable clonazepam, dexamethasone, labetalol, methotrexate,ondansetron,propranolol, ranitidine, and vancomycin just to name a few can be administered orally.
So back to “Chewable”. If a patient is dispensed a chewable medication, is there an obligation for the pharmacist to counsel the patient that the tablet must be chewed? Some adamantly say Yes,because the desired effects won't be obtained if swallowed whole,while others arguably say No, citing final drug concentration will not be statistically different either way.
Chewable means: “capable of being chewed”, “opportunity to be chewed”, “formulated to allow for chewing” and “having disintegrable properties allowing for chewing”. By definition, chewable does not obligate a patient to chew or mandate a pharmacist to counsel chew vs. take or swallow.
Chewable tablets such as baby Aspirin, carbamazepine, cetirizine, lamotrigine, loratidine, meclizine, methylphenidate, montelukast, Pepto-Bismol, phenytoin, simethicone, sodium fluoride, and Tums are particularly suitable for patients (usually pediatric or geriatric) who for one reason or the other; find it inconvenient to swallow traditional tablets and with a sufficient amount of water.
These tablets are intended to disintegrate smoothly in the mouth at a moderate rate either with or without actual chewing. Characteristically, chewable tablets have a smooth texture upon disintegration, are pleasant tasting and leave no bitter or unpleasant taste.
Chewable products, on the other hand would not be a good choice if the patient can’t tolerate additional sweeteners such as dextrose, lactose, mannitol, sorbitol, aspartame, saccharin.
It must also be noted that true chewable products such as gum based formulations containing nicotine, need to be chewed and parked as per manufacturer guidelines and not swallowed whole.
For many, chewable means chew and swallow. For others, the jury is out and deadlocked that swallowing a chewable tablet whole is absolutely fine and completely safe.
FAQs
Chewable tablets should not be swallowed whole.
What happens if you swallow a dissolvable tablet whole? ›
Alternatively, ODTs may be swallowed whole. > Once disintegrated, an easy-to-swallow residue is left behind and the medication will be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. >
Is it okay to swallow gummy vitamins whole? ›
They can be chewed and swallowed with no fuss or risk of choking. Additional vitamins: Finally, of course, there's the fact that they do provide important vitamins.
Should tablets be swallowed whole not to be chewed or crushed? ›
The active ingredient released may degrade on contact with light, moisture or the food with which it is mixed for administration. The person who crushes the tablets or opens the capsules is exposed to drug particles, which may be carcinogenic, teratogenic or fetotoxic. They are sometimes allergenic.
What if you swallow chewable aspirin? ›
Chew the tablet thoroughly before swallowing. This medication may also be crushed or swallowed whole. If stomach upset occurs while you are taking this medication, you may take it with food or milk. The dosage and length of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
Will a chewable pill dissolve if swallowed? ›
Chewable tablets should be chewed until they have completely dissolved. They're not meant to be swallowed whole. Examples of chewable tablets include Tylenol Chewable and many brands of children's vitamins.
How long do dissolvable tablets take to dissolve? ›
In general, it typically takes approximately 30 minutes for most medications to dissolve. When a medication is coated in a special coating – which may help protect the drug from stomach acids – often times it may take longer for the therapeutic to reach the bloodstream.
Can you swallow Flintstone chewables? ›
Can chewables be swallowed? Chewables should be chewed or crushed under your supervision. For kids 2-3 years of age: chew one half tablet daily with food. For ages 4 and up: chew one tablet daily with food.
How to take chewable tablets? ›
If you are taking the wafers or chewable tablets, chew them thoroughly and then swallow. If you are taking the lozenges, place the lozenge in your mouth and allow it to slowly dissolve. If you are taking the powder, mix it thoroughly in the proper amount of liquid or soft food and stir well.
Can you swallow chewable Pepto? ›
This medication may be chewed, crushed or swallowed whole. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose.
Medications that have modified-release dosage forms or a special coating:
- Acetaminophen ER (Tylenol 8HR)
- Aspirin EC (Ecotrin)
- Bisacodyl (Dulcolax)
- Alprazolam ER (Xanax XR)
- Bupropion ER (Aplenzin, Forfivo XL, Wellbutrin SR/XL)
- Oxycodone ER (OxyContin, Xtampza ER)
- Morphine sulfate ER (MS Contin)
In fact, some pills that are meant to be swallowed whole should never be crushed or chewed. Doing so can be dangerous or prevent them from working as they should. Some medicines work over a few hours instead of all at once. That won't happen if the pill or tablet changes form.
How to take pills if you can't swallow them? ›
Fill a plastic water or soda bottle with water. Put the tablet on your tongue and close your lips tightly around the bottle opening. Take a drink, keeping contact between the bottle and your lips by pursing your lips and using a sucking motion to swallow the water and pill.
Can you swallow chewable amoxicillin? ›
Chew the tablets thoroughly and swallow, followed by a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters). Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually every 8 or 12 hours. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
Can I swallow chewable Dramamine? ›
Take with or without food. Take 30 to 60 minutes before travel if using for motion sickness. Chew well before swallowing.
Why are some tablets chewable? ›
Additionally, chewable tablets facilitate swallowing as the product is initially broken down into particles in the oral cavity. This is a useful patient-centric advantage for populations such as pediatrics for whom swallowing of conventional tablets is a concern (11,12,13).
What happens if you leave a pill to dissolve in your throat? ›
Pills shouldn't be left in the throat to dissolve. A pill can burn the lining of the throat, causing esophagitis, a condition where the esophagus becomes inflamed. Esophagitis can also be caused by other conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), infections, or injury.
Do dissolvable tablets taste bad? ›
Orally disintegrating tablets and oral lyophilisates are novel attractive dosage forms that disintegrate or dissolve in the buccal cavity within seconds without necessity of drinking. The major limitation in designing of these dosage forms is unpleasant taste of the drug substance.
Is dissolving pills bad? ›
Doing so can affect the way the medicine works and how quickly the medicine is released and absorbed. Crushing, chewing, or dissolving these tablets also increases the risk of adverse reactions. Injury can range from minor to severe, depending on the type of medicine ingested.
Can orally disintegrating tablets be swallowed with water? ›
Oral administration is the most widely used and convenient route with high stability and a small packaging size [1, 2]. The orally disintegrating tablet (ODT), as a delivery system, rapidly disintegrates in the mouth upon contact with saliva; therefore, it does not need additional water.
