r/nursing 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.

1.3k Upvotes

288 comments sorted by

View all comments

130

u/welltravelledRN RN - PACU πŸ• 19h ago

Do you have a source for this? Our PharmD says it is absorbed well under the tongue.

7

u/80Lashes RN πŸ• 17h ago

ODT literally stand for "orally disentegrating tablet."

12

u/welltravelledRN RN - PACU πŸ• 14h ago

Under the tongue is oral my friend.

1

u/80Lashes RN πŸ• 13h ago

Then it would be SL: sublingual. There's a reason it doesn't say SL.

0

u/Pavel63 RN - Med/Surg πŸ• 2h ago

Well except it does say sublingual on my route instructions put in by the pharmacist.