From the Research
For patients with difficulty swallowing, orally disintegrating tablets are a more convenient and easier to swallow NSAID option compared to disintegrating tablets or oral liquid solutions, as they dissolve quickly on the tongue without water, increasing patient compliance and bioavailability. When considering easier to swallow NSAID options, several formulations are available, including liquid suspensions, dispersible tablets, and orally disintegrating tablets. Liquid ibuprofen (available as 100mg/5mL suspension) is an excellent choice, typically dosed at 400-600mg every 6-8 hours for adults 1. Meloxicam oral suspension (7.5mg/5mL) provides once-daily dosing at 7.5-15mg. Diclofenac is available as dispersible tablets that can be dissolved in water before swallowing. Naproxen sodium also comes in liquid form (125mg/5mL), usually taken at 250-500mg twice daily. However, the most recent and highest quality study 1 suggests that orally disintegrating tablets offer an attractive choice for patients suffering from dysphagia, as they can quickly disintegrate and release the medicament, increasing therapeutic impact and drug compliance. Some key points to consider when choosing an easier to swallow NSAID option include:
- Patient compliance and bioavailability are high with orally disintegrating tablets
- Liquid formulations may work slightly faster due to not requiring dissolution in the stomach
- Orally disintegrating tablets dissolve quickly on the tongue without water, making them a convenient option
- Patients with severe swallowing difficulties should consult their healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment, which may include topical NSAID formulations like diclofenac gel as an alternative approach 2.