Show Notes
In this episode, we’re joined by Prof. Kathryn Steadman, who gave an excellent presentation at last year’s European Society for Swallowing Disorders conference in Münster, Germany. Her talk explored the question: Does swallowing tablets with an IDDSI Level 4 gel impact drug absorption?
Because this topic isn’t discussed much – and Kathryn brings a lot of expertise as a pharmacist – we’re happy to have her with us to talk about safe and effective medication intake for people with dysphagia.
Topics we discuss:
the role of swallowing gels in medication administration
dysphagia as a potential side effect of medication
the pros and cons of crushing tablets or pills
what the future might hold for medication strategies in dysphagia care
Links & Literature:
Malouh et al. (2025). Does using oral medication lubricants to swallow whole or crushed tablets alter drug absorption in vivo? A randomised, single-dose crossover bioequivalence study in healthy adults. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2024.106552
Don’t Rush to Crush – Advanced Pharmacy Australia
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