A patient is receiving morphine (MS Contin)for severe cancer pain.His wife states that he has difficulty swallowing and asks if the tablets can be crushed and given with applesauce or pudding.What is your best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

MS Contin is an extended release tablet so crushing or dissolving it can cause a drug overdose from releasing too much drug at a time.The best action is to contact the prescriber with the information about the patient's difficulty swallowing because a different form or morphine or a different drug may be needed to control the pain.Teach patients and their families to take an extended release (ER)form of an oral opioid drug by swallowing the capsule or tablet whole because chewing it or opening the capsule allows too much of the drug to be absorbed all at once and an overdose can occur.

A Patient Is Receiving Morphine (MS Contin)for Severe Cancer Pain