PURPOSE: The aims of this paper are to review the pharmaceutical guide in order to include suitable dosage forms for patients with dysphagia and to establish specific recommendations for the drug administration. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was performed to develop general recommendations. Three topics were checked for every drug: a) alternative dosage forms suitable to patients with dysphagia; b) appropriateness of crushing tablets and opening capsules; and c) are these drugs suitable be mixed with food? RESULTS: An algorithm was designed in order to help clinicians to select the best pharmaceutical form and its optimal administration method. The former pharmaceutical guide was modified and handling recommendations were made for each drug. Eleven dispersable, 26 liquid and 8 powder new forms were included. CONCLUSIONS: This work has turned the pharmaceutical guide of the hospital in a useful tool for the prescription, validation and administration of medicines to patients with dysphagia.
PURPOSE: The aims of this paper are to review the pharmaceutical guide in order to include suitable dosage forms for patients with dysphagia and to establish specific recommendations for the drug administration. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was performed to develop general recommendations. Three topics were checked for every drug: a) alternative dosage forms suitable to patients with dysphagia; b) appropriateness of crushing tablets and opening capsules; and c) are these drugs suitable be mixed with food? RESULTS: An algorithm was designed in order to help clinicians to select the best pharmaceutical form and its optimal administration method. The former pharmaceutical guide was modified and handling recommendations were made for each drug. Eleven dispersable, 26 liquid and 8 powder new forms were included. CONCLUSIONS: This work has turned the pharmaceutical guide of the hospital in a useful tool for the prescription, validation and administration of medicines to patients with dysphagia.