Taking various types of medications with a peg tube

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rose

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Hi Everyone,

I just got a new post up. It has a short video I shot, and some basic information on converting medications and supplements that are in pill form, to being tube ready.

This post is not long, but, but there is more information on this subject in the "New to the Tube?" section.

I hope this is helpful! xo

Taking pills the easy way | Tube Chic
 
I am having my wife with tube feeding , we crush the pills , pill crusher sold at any pharmacy. If the tube is tight put a little oil on and it will work a lot better. We cut a gauge for drainage around the button. We do all medicines and 1 boost plus.
 
Thanks Rose! If a tablet has a line scored across it for cutting, it can be crushed as can meds labeled as immediate-release (IR).
The problem medications are those that are designed to release slowly into the digestive tract for longer, more even effect. If crushed the entire dose will hit all at once and that is not at all good. These medicines usually have sustained-release [SR], extended-release [ER, XR, XL], controlled-release [CR], after their name. Often, but not always, they are capsules with beads of medication inside and the capsule can be opened and the beads put through the feeding tube. Others are tablets with colored dots in them, and some may ordinary solid color tablets. Try to remember to let your doctor know that you need crushable or liquid medication and double check with the pharmacist. See the list of "Do Not Crush" medications at ISMP Tools
 
I have since day one taken all my meds and vitamins by tube as in the beginning I could not swallow, now that I can eat full meals in the normal way I still take all my meds and vitamins by tube and use a cheap pill grinder bought on line to grind all my pills. All works very well.
Al
 
Hi Diane, thanks for providing the link for those wanting to check if their medications can be crushed.

As I mentioned in the Tube Chic post, the video supplied was only intended to show an extremely easy way to take medications, i.e. the mechanics of it) not as advice for what medications can be pre-dissolved for going through a tube.

One thing I should have mentioned, or have shown in the video, is how quickly those ibuprofen tablets dissolved, as do pretty much any type of pill that is not enteric coated! For me, at least, it is preferable to just allow five to ten (or so) extra minutes and let the pill disintegrate on its own, than to try to crush (by whatever method) first. It cuts out a step in the process, makes for less clean-up, and you also know that you're getting ALL of the dose, instead of trying to rinse out the residue in a pill crusher, etc.

I still plan to make another better video on this subject for Tube Chic, but, that is one of those "down the road" things right now,lol.
 
Oops, meant to also say that the one exception (other than enteric coated pills) to the "if you wait a little while, it will dissolve on its own" method, are those darned gel caps. (vitamins E, A, and fish oil are often in this form) I have had very poor luck with them. I guess one could poke the gel with a pin and squeeze the contents out, but, there are liquid form counterparts for many of these.
 
Hi Rose, I tried to prick the gel caps and drain them but that didn't work well. I now get everything from I-herb who seem to have all vitamins in the form for crushing and using in a tube.
Al
 
Yeah, I like iHerb, I feel they're an ethical company. They also have a good selection.
 
Firefighter, I'm also curious. Can you share with us how you're now able to eat regular meals? Thank you.
 
Hello folks sorry I am so long getting back to you, we were out of town. I really don't know how I can eat in the regular manner, I can not talk and walk with the aid of a walker. When I had the tube put in at the suggestion of the head specialist at the ALS clinic. I was having great difficulty eat anything, now I can eat whatever I want, no problem. Last night I had a full serving of fish and frys. I eat a little slow but no problem eating a full meal. I am on a vitamin program that I was put on by the ALS clinic, I don't know if that helped or not.
Al
 
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