[Alternatives to solid pharmacutical forms usually given by enteral nutrition tubes]

We analyze which drugs of those administered through an enteral nutrition tube, present problems which are inherent to the pharmaceutical forms. The study is conducted with a sample of 40 patients who have a feeding tube, who received a total of 48 different medications. 38 (78.3%) were in a solid pharmaceutical form, and 10 (21.7%) were liquid. Among the most used medications, ranitidine stands out in 12 patients, paracetamol in 8, and phenytoin in 7. We note the use of the solid forms of phenytoin, nifedipine, and controlled release morphine, as having the greatest interest due to their contraindication. For all the studied cases, we propose alternatives and we note those drugs for which we did not find any. The hospitalary pharmaceutical guides should include liquid pharmaceutical forms of those drugs which should not be ground up. There is little information on the wards about the administration of drugs through feeding tubes.