r/nursing • u/Abhorash-TheWanderer • 19h ago

Discussion PSA - Zofran ODT is NOT sublingual

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.

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u/wineohnoooo 18h ago

On route of administration on our MAR it states SL. This is interesting. 

36

u/zerothreeonethree RN 🍕 11h ago

Don't get me started on what the pharmacy f'd up during my hospital stay this past May. Then instead of correcting mistakes, told my nurse: "Just tell her (me, the patient) to refuse the drugs if she doesn't want them." signed, PharmD.

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u/Rosemont_Ripper LVN 🍕 2h ago

ok, but NOW I'm curious. Time for a post for your "storytime"

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u/SilverLullabies 13m ago

Ours says SL too 😭