Adderall tabs question

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Mar 8, 2016

I would just get clarification from MD that is is ok to crush (we do that in LTC)

Baloo · Mar 9, 2016

I have a student that takes her pill sandwiched between two mini marshmallows. Mom brought in a little tub of them so she picks out her two marshmallows while I get the pill. She puts it between, smushes them together, pops in her mouth and off she goes. It's the only way she's ever taken it, so probably the only way she ever will!

kidzcare · Mar 9, 2016

This is reminding me of a funny story with my son.

He takes singulair chewable daily for asthma. We were all getting colds once and I said we would all take some Vitamin C (totally works! large doses for several days. I haven't had a cold last longer than 4 days in over 3 years!). So I handed him his and turned to the sink to get him water. He popped it in his mouth and started chewing. Vitamin C is so bitter!! He started spitting and gagging going "Yuck! Yuck!". Maybe I shoulda told him to wait :)

vikivail26 · Mar 11, 2016

It has to state on the medical authorization from the physician ok to be crushed. I had a student who hated swallowing pills. It was an issue every morning. I felt the parents should have not made me deal with it, when they could have given the medication at home before sending the student to school.

jdub6 · Mar 12, 2016

I second others who recommend getting an order. This is often required in ltc "may crush appropriate meds and give in food or beverage. " your local or hospital pharmacy should be able to help with a list of uncrushables (in aedition to er and XR, I would add enteric coated shouldn't be crushed as can cause irritation, and some non coated meds are also irritants).

FYI some prisons for example (lots of people getting mandatory meds and lots of diversion) crush and dissolve all meds as practice to prevent diversion, their docs don't prescribe xr for that reason.

A few have mentioned concerns about getting full dose...as long as the child takes it the same way every time this can be worked around. If the are dosing issues I would get an order to crush and preferably have the administration directions printed on the bottle.

SnowyJ, RN · Mar 12, 2016

Because it can be a little bitter when crushed, I had my student decide what kid yogurt he liked and we used that. He took the med like a champ.

I checked both online and with a pharmacist I know about crushing the pill. It is ok to do so, as someone else said, as long as it isn't XR.

Love the mini marshmallow idea!

DEgalRN · Mar 13, 2016

Just as an FYI, while you can't crush Adderall XR, you can open it and pour the medication into a spoonful of food (per the medication insert). Sounds like yours isn't XR anyway though.