Considérations portant sur l'écrasement des comprimés en gériatrie

In geriatrics, it is frequent to crush tablets so that patients presenting problems of swallowing and/or of the behaviour may take the medicine more easily. This may, however, significantly alter the effectiveness of drugs, their pharmacokinetics and even lead to toxic effects for both patients and caregivers. All classes of drugs are concerned. To avoid potential iatrogenic and professional risks, it is important to first make sure of the dosage formulation, because some drugs prohibit tampering. We propose a simplified list of drugs for which it is forbidden to crush together with some practical recommendations.