Which medication would be appropriate to crush and deliver via an enteral feeding tube?

Which medication would be appropriate to crush and deliver via an enteral feeding tube?

• A. Nifedipine XL
• B. Metoprolol Immediate Release
• C. Enteric coated aspirin
• D. Diltiazem CD

Answer: (B)

When giving medicines through an enteral feeding tube, you want a formulation that releases the drug in a predictable, safe way and can be crushed if needed. Immediate-release tablets are designed to release the drug quickly and can be crushed and mixed with water for tube administration without fundamentally altering how the drug acts. This makes Metoprolol Immediate Release the appropriate choice for tube delivery. In contrast, extended-release, controlled-delivery, or enteric-coated forms are designed to release the drug over time or to protect the stomach. Crushing or disrupting those coatings changes the release profile, can cause rapid or uneven absorption, and may increase the risk of toxicity or GI irritation. That’s why the other options—Nifedipine XL, Diltiazem CD, and enteric-coated aspirin—should not be crushed for enteral administration.

When giving medicines through an enteral feeding tube, you want a formulation that releases the drug in a predictable, safe way and can be crushed if needed. Immediate-release tablets are designed to release the drug quickly and can be crushed and mixed with water for tube administration without fundamentally altering how the drug acts. This makes Metoprolol Immediate Release the appropriate choice for tube delivery.

In contrast, extended-release, controlled-delivery, or enteric-coated forms are designed to release the drug over time or to protect the stomach. Crushing or disrupting those coatings changes the release profile, can cause rapid or uneven absorption, and may increase the risk of toxicity or GI irritation. That’s why the other options—Nifedipine XL, Diltiazem CD, and enteric-coated aspirin—should not be crushed for enteral administration.