The Importance of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms in Administration via Enteral Feeding Tubes

SUMMARY A caloric requirement of the\udpatients who do not have an access for\udfeeding through an oral route is supported by\udenteral or parenteral nutrition. In the patients\udwho have suitable gastrointestinal function,\udenteral feeding is preferred initially. Enteral\udfeeding is also used for administration of\udmedications in patients who cannot swallow.\udHowever, an administration of drugs via a\udfeeding tube is complicated; appropriate\udtechniques should be used in order to\udprevent obstruction of feeding tube and\udthereby avoid reduction of the drug effect\udand to minimize the risk of toxicity of given\udpharmaceuticals. In the patients who are\udnot able to take medication orally, alternative\udroutes such as intravenous, intramuscular,\udsubcutaneous, inhaled, transdermal, rectal,\udand sublingual administrations are available\udand should be preferred at the first place.\udAccording to the American Society for\udParenteral and Enteral Nutrition, an effect\udof a size and the position of the feeding\udtube, characteristics of pharmaceutical\uddosage form and methods of administration\udshould be considered when applying\udmedication via enteral tube. The risk of the\uddrug interactions arises in patients who\udhave nutritional support. In order to prevent\uddrug interactions, a pharmacist, who has\udan extensive education and knowledge on\uddrugs, its characteristics and mechanism of\udaction is required for multidisciplinary team\udin clinical practice