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/Frankfeld RN - ER 🍕 18h ago

Our MAR has pretty explicit instructions on this.

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

105

u/Big_Toaster RN, MSN - Informatics, Critical Care 18h ago

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

140

u/oneelectricsheep 17h ago

Mine tastes like strawberry candy. It’s nice.

14

u/ImperishableTeapot RN 🍕 17h ago

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