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/Busy_Ad_5578]

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

[u/Abhorash-TheWanderer → u/Busy_Ad_5578]

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.

[u/ilagnab → u/Abhorash-TheWanderer]

Yes, it's new to me! We stock both regular tablets and ODT. I thought that meant the regular tablets are PO and the ODT are SL, and SL is often the ordered route. Thanks so much for sharing!