Medications that should not be crushed

Abstract

To evaluate the knowledge about medications that could or could not be crushed or split among a group of patients in the Monterrey metropolitan area, and make a list of medications available in México that should not be crushed or split. A descriptive, observational, transverse study was conducted using validated surveys among 950 patients undergoing medical treatment that went to clinics in the cities of San Nicolás de los Garza, Monterrey and Guadalupe of the Monterrey metropolitan area. The survey included a series of questions aimed at learning the patients' level of knowledge regarding which drugs can be split or crushed. In order to collect the list of medications, several databases were consulted. Of the study group, 80.3% had crushed or split a tablet prior to its administration, most of them to facilitate oral intake. Fifty four percent (54.4%) did not ask their physicians about this procedure. Seventy two (72.5%) percent considered that not all tablets should be crushed, but they did not know the exact reason why. An extensive list of medications available on the Mexican market that should not be crushed or split was presented. There is an urgent need to improve the information available regarding what dosage forms can be split or crushed in order to prevent medication errors.