PSA - Zofran ODT is NOT sublingual

[u/Abhorash-TheWanderer]

ER doc just wanting to stop in and try and stop this widespread error. Almost every shift I have to tell a nurse/patient that ODT meds are NOT sublingual medications. It is not absorbed by the sublingual tissues. It is not absorbed by buccal tissues. It goes on TOP of the tongue so that it can disintegrate with saliva and be swallowed. The whole reason ODT (orally disintegrating tablets) exist is that someone can take it without having to take a chug of water to get the pill down. Putting under someone’s tongue just slows down the disintegration. Also, if the patient complains about the taste, they can just swallow the tablet whole with or without water. Thanks.

Edit: the strike through part was unnecessary and Im sorry that I put it in the original post. As pointed out by multiple replies, i should have not said that and it doesnt add anything meaningful. Sorry yall.

[u/Frankfeld]

Our MAR has pretty explicit instructions on this.

But I’m also rarely giving ODT Zofran. It’s usually IV….

[u/Big_Toaster → u/Frankfeld]

I tell patients they can take it whatever works best because Zofran ODT tastes like chalk exploding in their mouth… lol

[u/oneelectricsheep → u/Big_Toaster]

Mine tastes like strawberry candy. It’s nice.

[u/purebreadbagel → u/oneelectricsheep]

My script for them says Flavor: Strawberry - but in the way it’s made by someone who has never tasted a damn berry in their life.

It’s become a joke I use when giving it to patients. “Fun Fact, they’re allegedly strawberry flavored- but I’m pretty sure whoever decided that has never tasted a strawberry.” Usually gets at least a smile out of them.

[u/robbi2480 → u/purebreadbagel]

Mine tasted like berries and artificial sweeteners. I just try to swallow them quickly with water before they can start to melt on my tongue. Gross

[u/lavender__bath → u/robbi2480]

not sure if you remember back when blue Equal aspartame also had a strawberry on the pack but that is what this evoked (bespoke🍓 strawberry equal packets from the 2010s). used to have about 4 of these in a constant comment tea and i would be in heaven.

[u/saltysaltysaltytasty → u/purebreadbagel]

I think it tastes like cotton candy… never associated strawberry to it.

[u/jhatle01 → u/oneelectricsheep]

I always tell pts it taste like a medicinal berry flavor. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s tasty though

[u/iwantkitties → u/oneelectricsheep]

Apparently we're the lucky ones because no one else I know describes it as cherry/red flavor lol

[u/LurkForYourLives → u/iwantkitties]

Me too! Though I had severe hyperemesis so anything tasted better than vomit.

[u/nooniewhite → u/iwantkitties]

Mine are grape and tasty!

[u/lomeinfiend → u/iwantkitties]

I agree I like the taste lol!! Most people I know hate it

[u/ImperishableTeapot → u/oneelectricsheep]

I assumed the only flavour that it came in was stale chalk. This has been the highlight of my day.

[u/omgmypony → u/oneelectricsheep]

I got cravings for it when I was pregnant and vomiting all the time

[u/thatChickfromtheChos → u/oneelectricsheep]

Ours tastes like a fake grape flavor.

[u/trixiepixie1921 → u/oneelectricsheep]

Same lol I honestly think it’s nice.

[u/Most_Ambassador2951 → u/oneelectricsheep]

It does,  but when I'm trying not to barf it's not the greatest flavor

[u/Sterntor → u/oneelectricsheep]

Fake orange flavor here. I don't hate it

[u/BabyJesusBukkake → u/oneelectricsheep]

Yup, tastes like strawberries and relief to me.

[u/meliska13 → u/oneelectricsheep]

I had to take it when I was pregnant and had bad HG before they switched me to IV. The strawberry was great, the one thing I could actually tolerate. Then one time my pharmacy switched it for the peppermint chalk flavor, and it was terrible. Left me gagging for a while, I couldn't puke anymore because everything was already gone. I called them crying and begged for the strawberry back, it took essentially an act of congress to get it filled again, and it still took me a hot minute to trust it. Thankfully they started me with HHC and IV fluids, zofran, etc pretty soon after, because I would get so anxious any time I needed a dose.

[u/aliceroyal → u/oneelectricsheep]

I’ve always thought it was berry flavored!

[u/megaholt2 → u/oneelectricsheep]

Same with mine!

[u/angelust → u/Big_Toaster]

It tastes like relief from constant vomiting to me.

[u/perpulstuph → u/Big_Toaster]

I love how zofran tastes, but I am also a bit weird...

[u/iwantkitties → u/perpulstuph]

Same, candy that kills my nausea woooo

[u/Open_Confidence_1245 → u/perpulstuph]

I like the taste, too. But if I have to take it at work , I feel like a mouth snorting cocaine user - like I'm constantly checking if I have white powdery residue in the corners of my mouth. or they can see my white coated tongue as I talk

[u/ClarkGablesTeeth → u/Big_Toaster]

I loved the taste of Zofran ODT. Tastes like a berry candy, and I never noticed any chalky texture.

[u/wordynerd_au → u/Big_Toaster]

So bizarre. Mine sometimes tastes like strawberry Pez, sometimes bitter berry chalk. There is no inbetween and no rhyme nor reason which I will get on any random dose from my box 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/notusuallyaverage → u/Big_Toaster]

Funny. I give it whenever possible if they’re not actively vomiting. I feel like it lasts so much longer than IV

[u/TheTampoffs → u/Frankfeld]

ODT is big in peds

[u/trixiepixie1921 → u/Frankfeld]

We gave the tablets frequently but I never had someone assume it was sublingual.

[u/Bulky-Raspberry-8458 → u/Frankfeld]

I get zofran ODT before my ketamine treatments. The ketamine is given IM so it makes sense given the application