What is a risk associated with crushing time released tablets?

Crushing time-released tablets poses a significant risk because it alters the way the medication is intended to be absorbed in the body. Time-released formulations are designed to release their active ingredients slowly over a specified period, which ensures that the medication maintains a therapeutic level in the bloodstream and minimizes potential side effects.

When these tablets are crushed, the time-release mechanism is compromised, leading to the entire dose being released at once rather than over an extended duration. This can result in an overwhelming amount of medication entering the bloodstream rapidly, potentially causing an overdose. Such situations can lead to toxic effects or adverse reactions, especially for medications that have a narrow therapeutic index. The importance of administering medications as directed, particularly time-released formulations, emphasizes the necessity of maintaining their intended pharmacokinetic properties to ensure patient safety and effectiveness in treatment.