PO vs IV Medication Question

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Burn ICU, OR, Research, Med Device Edu.

Nursing friends,

I am doing a little bit of research. In your practice do you come across any medications that only come in the form of tablet and do not have an option for IV or IM administration? If so, would you mind letting me know the type of unit you work on and any info about the med(s)?

For example, Buspirone (shivering suppression after a cardiac event) only comes as tablet.

Thanks so much for your help!

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

too may to count sorry!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Colace, apixiban, quetiapine, zyprexa, prograff, synthroid, restoralax, trazadone, lactulose, Crestor, Lipitor, senekot , sinemet, plavix, calcium, cozaar ,monocor , cipralex, aspirin,tegretol, januvia, zopiclone, prolopa , lyrics, Septra, metformin, aricept, tecta,flomax, trazadone,norvasc,losec....Do I need to go on?

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Specializes in Critical care.
Colace, apixiban, quetiapine, zyprexa, prograff, synthroid, restoralax, trazadone, lactulose, Crestor, Lipitor, senekot , sinemet, plavix, calcium, cozaar ,monocor , cipralex, aspirin,tegretol, januvia, zopiclone, prolopa , lyrics, Septra, metformin, aricept, tecta,flomax, trazadone,norvasc,losec....Do I need to go on?

I've given synthroid IV before.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Hey you learn something new every day. Lol

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Specializes in ICU.

The biggest deal is the XR PO meds that can't be crushed and don't have an IV equivalent; regular PO meds can still be given via a OG/NG/PEG if the patient is not NPO. The patients who need the controlled release psych meds are the ones I feel sorriest for. We give them some serious withdrawal. Mucinex is another big problem because that can't be crushed either; we get a lot of pneumonia patients that would really benefit from Mucinex, but they can't get it because we can't find a way to give it to them.

Zyprexa (referring to PP) at least has a quick dissolve buccal form, so that can still be given to NPO patients.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.
The biggest deal is the XR PO meds that can't be crushed and don't have an IV equivalent; regular PO meds can still be given via a OG/NG/PEG if the patient is not NPO. The patients who need the controlled release psych meds are the ones I feel sorriest for. We give them some serious withdrawal. Mucinex is another big problem because that can't be crushed either; we get a lot of pneumonia patients that would really benefit from Mucinex, but they can't get it because we can't find a way to give it to them.

Zyprexa (referring to PP) at least has a quick dissolve buccal form, so that can still be given to NPO patients.

mucinex comes mixed in with a ton of liquid cough medicines though. You'd think someone from the pharm industry would figure out a solo liquid to increase their pocketbooks!

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Specializes in Burn ICU, OR, Research, Med Device Edu.

Thank you so much everyone...this information is REALLY helpful! I working on a project where I am trying to compile as many medications as I can that fit into this category. Really appreciate your help!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
Colace, apixiban, quetiapine, zyprexa, prograff, synthroid, restoralax, trazadone, lactulose, Crestor, Lipitor, senekot , sinemet, plavix, calcium, cozaar ,monocor , cipralex, aspirin,tegretol, januvia, zopiclone, prolopa , lyrics, Septra, metformin, aricept, tecta,flomax, trazadone,norvasc,losec....Do I need to go on?

Synthroid comes IV. Septra can be changed to bactrim IV.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I have also given a T4 drip.

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The biggest deal is the XR PO meds that can't be crushed and don't have an IV equivalent; regular PO meds can still be given via a OG/NG/PEG if the patient is not NPO. The patients who need the controlled release psych meds are the ones I feel sorriest for. We give them some serious withdrawal. Mucinex is another big problem because that can't be crushed either; we get a lot of pneumonia patients that would really benefit from Mucinex, but they can't get it because we can't find a way to give it to them.

Zyprexa (referring to PP) at least has a quick dissolve buccal form, so that can still be given to NPO patients.

We have liquid guaifenesin in my ICU.

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Specializes in Hospice.
mucinex comes mixed in with a ton of liquid cough medicines though. You'd think someone from the pharm industry would figure out a solo liquid to increase their pocketbooks!

They have. It's called Robitussin. Granted, Mucinex tabs are q12 hours and Robitussin liquid is q4 hours, but they're both Guiafenesin.

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