Expert: Dr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi - 5/6/2009

Question
my husband had an esphogectomy..he is on a feeding tube right now.he was given alprazolam for anxiety however it says to take by mouth and he cannot swallow yet..can I crush this and flush it thru the gtube? it is 0.5 mg tab? thank you for your help

Answer
Hi Gail,
Sorry to hear about your plight. Yes you can crush the tablet and flush it through the gastric tube. Also I think the feeding tube must be pushed in through his nose, you could place the tablet in his mout under the tongue, the drug gets absorbed from the mouth without hsi having to swallow it. Probably pushing it through the tube would be more convenient for both of you.
Ravi Ghooi