Mic-key problems......

Disablednurse · May 23, 2003

I used to always pour them down separately from everything else and you have to use a lot of water. I sometimes used the syringe to get them down and flush well.

moonshadeau, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APN, NP, CNS · May 23, 2003

Our facility does its best to avoid the situation at all costs, because it does create real hassles. Ask for meds that can come in the liquid form. As for the beads, are you talking about Prilosec or Prevacid? Protonix is in the same category and it comes in a pill form. Other than that I have no ideas.

stella123 rn · May 23, 2003

I was taught to mix previcid with apple juice instead of H2O. This was in a drug handbook. It worked great.

KeniRN · May 23, 2003

We've had problems with those "beady" meds. We try to get it in tablets that we can dissolve in H2O or we order it in liquid. Best to avoid the "beady" meds. Protonix and Omeprazole both come in liquid. Had a guy on Prevacid and had a J tube that had a very small lumen and the beads would not go thru no matter what we did. The only way to get them thru was to crush them which defeats its purpose. Got the doc to change it to something that came in liquid.

BadBird, BSN, RN · May 23, 2003

Mix with about a spoonful of applesauce, add a little water, it works great.

gwenith, BSN, RN · May 23, 2003

Sounds good - recently been told that the old "coca cola down the tube to clear the lumen" is out and you are better off using bicarb. Any suggestions on that little tip?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · May 24, 2003

We always use diet 7-up if anything more than water is needed. Isnt sticky, no sugars so doesnt mess with diabetic patients and packs a heck of a fizz to clean out those mucked up lumens.

CraftyLPN · May 24, 2003

Med that clumps up the worst has been Nexium...Is that available in lqd?

I also remember that trick too. but we used diet pop..if that didn't work..the flat side of a key seemed to always work,pushing themuck up or down....

Flynurse · May 24, 2003

If I am recalling correctly, Prevacid comes in powder form. Don't quote me on that, but if I were you I would look into it.

I have used applesauce with "beady" medications. It works wonderfully!

rachel h, BSN, RN · May 24, 2003

I always use a 60cc syringe filled with water and 'swirl' the syringe while I'm pushing the medication into the G-tube. Then I just flush with another 60cc of H2O- seems to work well. Also, if you can give those 'beady' meds right before the patient's scheduled H2O flush (if they have one), that works well to make sure the tube is flushed well.

Edward,IL · Jun 2, 2003

As a general rule, I try to avoid opening capsules containing beads. When you have to, applesauce has always worked for e, too.

To unclog a feeding tube, try using Accent meat tenderizer mixed with warm water. Get as much of this in the tube for as far as youcan and let it dwell for a while. Repeat this until it comes free.

Edward IL