What initial instruction should be reinforced for diflunisal when the patient has difficulty swallowing tablets?

What initial instruction should be reinforced for diflunisal when the patient has difficulty swallowing tablets?

• A. Crush tablets and mix with food
• B. Take tablets with a small amount of water
• C. Swallow the tablets with a large amount of water or milk
• D. Break tablets and take in halves

Answer: (C)

When a patient has difficulty swallowing tablets, the first step is to use a generous amount of liquid to help swallow and move the tablet down safely. For diflunisal, the best instruction is to swallow the tablet with a large amount of water (or milk if preferred) so the pill goes down intact and reaches the stomach as intended. Crushing or breaking the tablet can change how the drug is absorbed and often increases irritation to the stomach lining with NSAIDs, which is not desirable. Taking the tablet with only a small amount of water won’t reliably aid swallowing, and breaking the tablet is not the recommended initial approach unless specifically directed. So, using a full glass of water (or milk) to swallow the tablet keeps the dose intact and minimizes GI risk.

When a patient has difficulty swallowing tablets, the first step is to use a generous amount of liquid to help swallow and move the tablet down safely. For diflunisal, the best instruction is to swallow the tablet with a large amount of water (or milk if preferred) so the pill goes down intact and reaches the stomach as intended. Crushing or breaking the tablet can change how the drug is absorbed and often increases irritation to the stomach lining with NSAIDs, which is not desirable. Taking the tablet with only a small amount of water won’t reliably aid swallowing, and breaking the tablet is not the recommended initial approach unless specifically directed. So, using a full glass of water (or milk) to swallow the tablet keeps the dose intact and minimizes GI risk.