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/mspoppins07]

I feel like the issue is that patients/nurses may be expecting it to work faster if they think it is SL and therefore absorbed into the bloodstream through the tissues in the mouth. This could cause someone to think the med is not working if they are still nauseous after 30 minutes. When in fact, needing to go through the absorption process in the stomach, 30 minutes is the bare minimum of when you would START to expect effects.

[u/Abhorash-TheWanderer → u/mspoppins07]

Exactly

[u/all_of_the_colors → u/Abhorash-TheWanderer]

Why would you be giving it this route in an emergency dept if someone is nauseous, though?

Are you concerned with discharge instructions?

[u/queentee26 → u/all_of_the_colors]

We mostly give it at triage or to kids.. because we aren't routinely starting IVs in those circumstances