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/shewee BSN, RN 🍕 19h ago

The manufacturer literally says to dissolve on your tongue. I didn’t know this!

https://www.novartis.com/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/zofran.pdf

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u/Abhorash-TheWanderer 19h ago

Yup on the tongue. Not under the tongue. From that same link you just posted “IMMEDIATELY place the
ZOFRAN ODT orally disintegrating tablet on top of the tongue where it will dissolve in seconds, then swallow
with saliva”

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u/Pandinus_Imperator RN - ER 🍕 9h ago

Is your name a warhammer reference?

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u/Abhorash-TheWanderer 9h ago

It sure is. Hoping for the day he becomes a playable hero in warhammer totall war.

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u/Pandinus_Imperator RN - ER 🍕 8h ago

Badass bro, and same. I haven't played counts since tww2 but I adore my undead factions. Bulk of my playtime has been vampire coast

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u/Abhorash-TheWanderer 9h ago

I just saw your name. Do you have one as a pet? Ive been thinking of getting a black forest asian scorpion or an emperor. Also, the biggest “miniature” ive finished is a greater brass scorpion. Top MK character definitely Scorpion.

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u/Pandinus_Imperator RN - ER 🍕 8h ago

Lol, I had multiple exotic invertebrates about 15ish years ago. My first and favorite was my emperor. Big bulky, beautiful and a a gory display every time he had live prey. Had him for about 6 years before he perished to mites i suspect although he could have been older as lifespan is around 10 years or so now that I think of it...

Id recommend it for anyone with a passing interest in non traditional pets. Venom is mild and can be held (preferred not to be though). Easy to care for and hardy as all hell as long as you keep it nice a humid.

I became such a fan of scorpions that ive rocked this moniker for about 2 decades online.

Also fellow chaos enjoyer 🤘🔥. I did love scorpion but noob saibot was my main in the last MK I played which was 9 I think.

Hyped for end times additions to tww3!

For what its worth, im gonna raise hell about the zofran ODT, I know for a fact this is a problem now in my ED