Page 9 - P4304.1-V91_PS-Magazine-November 2023 PRINT
P. 9
Challenges in patients
with swallowing difficulties
by Rosemont Pharmaceuticals
Dysphagia refers to any difficulty which of the negative consequences that this
disrupts the normal swallowing process. can have on the activity of the drug. The
The causes of swallowing difficulties outcome of medicines manipulation can
are numerous however, it is a prevalent be emphasised in older people due to age
condition, reported to occur in up to 50% related differences in pharmacokinetics .
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of the elderly , as high as 68% of care Rosemont, as the UK’s leading
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home residents and 50% of patients with manufacturers specialising in licensed liquid
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neurological conditions . medicines in oral liquids, provide its extensive
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Some signs and symptoms which may product portfolio and education on the
indicate that a patient has difficulty topic of swallowing difficulties to healthcare
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swallowing include : professionals (https://www.rosemontpharma.
• Difficult or painful chewing or swallowing com/health-professionals/education-
resources).
• Dry mouth Rosemont especially prides itself in launching
• Difficulty controlling food or liquid in the many firsts/exclusively licensed oral liquids
mouth across challenging therapeutic areas e.g.,
• Coughing/choking before, during or after cardio-vascular, gastro-intestinal, and
swallowing endocrine system etc.
• Hoarse/wet voice quality The recently launched website -
Understanding Dysphagia
• Feeling of obstruction (www.liquidmedicine.co.uk) underscores
• Unexplained weight loss Rosemont’s commitment to support our
healthcare professionals and dysphagic
• Regurgitation of undigested food patients’ community alike. This unique
• Recurrent chest infections (resulting from digital platform offers patients and carers
aspiration) with the information they need to help
Research by the World Health Organisation them understand dysphagia. Resourced
with validated information the new website
suggests that in developed countries on supports patients and their carers towards a
average half of patients adhere to their better quality of life.
prescribed medication for managing chronic
conditions. 4 The Understanding Dysphagia Website has
Guidelines suggest that patients should been provided as a service to medicine by
Rosemont Pharmaceuticals.
be asked if they have difficulty swallowing
tablets and evaluated for the reasons 1. Clavé P, Shaker R. Dysphagia: current reality and scope of the
problem. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
thereof . 2015 May;12(5):259
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Oral solid dose medication can present 2. Survey of medicines related care of residents with dysphagia
in care homes. The Patients Association. Available at: https://
a significant challenge to patients with www.patients- association.org.uk/Handlers/Download.
swallowing difficulties, impacting on the safe ashx?IDMF=6ff1b4ea-52c2-4ad4-9331- d989d0b4bf05
Accessed May 2023
administration of oral medication. A survey 3. Wright D, Begent D, et al. Guidelines on the medication
found that a high proportion (almost 60%) management of adults with swallowing difficulties.
of older people had difficulty swallowing 4. World Health Organization. (2003). Adherence to long-term
their tablets or capsules . For patients unable therapies : evidence for action. World Health Organization.
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to swallow tablets, liquids may be a better https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42682
choice . 5. Greenwall R. Medicine Management. Medicines management
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and older people – a guide for healthcare professionals. Aug
A common patient response to a swallowing 2017.
difficulty is to chew, crush tablets or open 6. Prescribing medicines for patients with Dysphagia. Edited by
Prof. D.J Wright 2011
capsules to make the medicine easier to 7. Pharmacy in practice Vol 15; issue 9; p411-414.
take . Often, these patients are unaware
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