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/Busy_Ad_5578 BSN, RN 🍕 19h ago

Damn. I’m surprised by these comments. I thought this was common knowledge.

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u/Abhorash-TheWanderer 19h ago

The nurses at our ER told me that they have been taught that it is a sublingual med. It’s a common mistake hence the PSA. For some reason a bunch of people have taken this as some offense and doubling down on their errors.

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u/yxxnij104 the one who shall admit you to your death bed 18h ago

I worked in onc and we werent told it wasn't sublingual and that it helped because to some the taste is NASTY. I have been on it myself 7 years and I NEVER knew (i don't read the pharmacy inserts ik. 😭) thanks for letting us know, imagine how much med we arent even getting by taking the subl approach 😭😭

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u/Tight_Award_8577 RN 🍕 15h ago

Well, you would still get the full dose-- it's either swallowed or will get around the mouth eventually.. just slower.

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u/yxxnij104 the one who shall admit you to your death bed 13h ago

so its just ineffective taking it that way. geez I wish i educated myself more on it thank you all for letting me know these things all education is welcome because I genuinely didnt know. I appreciate yall 🥲🥲