Question

Your patient has difficulty swallowing medication. His family asks that you crush his 0900 medication. The order reads:

81 mg ASA ec PO q morning

What will you tell the family and patient regarding this medication?

a. It's safe to crush and administer with food

b. Crushing is not recommended as it may cause gastric irritation

c. Crushing is allowed, but the medication must be taken on an empty stomach

d. Crushing is acceptable, but the patient should drink plenty of water afterward

Answer 1

The medication is 81 mg of enteric-coated ASA, which should not be crushed due to the risk of gastric irritation as the protective coating would be destroyed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medication in question is 81 mg of ASA ec, which stands for Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) with an enteric coating. The enteric coating is designed to prevent the medication from dissolving in the stomach and instead dissolve in the more neutral pH of the intestines to avoid gastric irritation. For this reason, option b is the correct answer: Crushing is not recommended as it may cause gastric irritation. Crushing the enteric-coated tablet would destroy the protective coating and could result in the ASA irritating the stomach lining, potentially causing discomfort or even ulcers in susceptible patients. It's important always to follow the medication guidelines and consult with a pharmacist or physician if you have concerns about how to properly administer medication.