抄録
We examined the procedures for dispensing tablets or capsules that are not approved for crushing after checking the basis for such non-approval regarding 108 medicines introduced in our hospital. The problems are summarized as 1) a reduction in the pharmacological efficacy, 2) lowering the compliance due to a bitter taste or unpleasant odor, 3) dispersing hazardous powder, and 4) a disappearance of the efficacy of improved formulation such as for enteric coating.
The taste of the ground tablets or capsules that are indicated to not be crushed was examined and compared with various concentrations of quinine hydrochloride powder in 8 healthy volunteers who showed a normal response to a bitter taste. Thirty-one out of 43 drugs were found to be tolerable to the taste, in which 13 drugs were less bitter than 0.5% quinine hydrochloride powder. However the other drugs either induced numbness or had a pungent taste and unpleasant odor, which were also considered to become the major reasons for nonapproval for crushing. Therefore, we found that several tablets have no serious problems, when they are dispensed after grinding. On the other hand, a number of hygroscopic medicines and anticancer agents tended to easily disintegrate in water. As a result, they can be prescribed by suspending them in water immediately before taking them. Our findings suggest that several tablets or capsules that are non-approved for crushing may thus be dispensed without any serious problems after crushing or disintegrating them in water. Therefore, our present findings may offer some useful information on the countermeasures for dispensing tablets and capsules that are not approved for crushing.
