CHS Pharmacy News

September 2025

Business Hours

Closed for the Labor Day Holiday, September 1st

Normal business hours are 9 AM – 5:30 PM M-F, and 9 AM – 3PM Saturday and Closed on Sunday
*Emergency services available 24/7/365

Pill Crushing Recommendations * **

Crushing pills may be necessary for patients with swallowing difficulties, but it must be done with caution. Not all medications are safe to crush—especially extended-release, controlled-release, or enteric-coated formulations. Crushing these can lead to rapid drug release, altered absorption, and potentially serious side effects. For example, hydrocodone extended-release capsules must be swallowed whole, as crushing them can result in a potentially fatal overdose.

Pharmacists play a vital role in guiding safe medication practices. They can help identify which medications are crushable and suggest alternatives such as liquid formulations or dispersible tablets when appropriate. According to the American Pharmacists Association, pharmacists are essential in educating patients and coordinating care to ensure medications are administered safely and effectively.

Always consult a pharmacist or prescriber before modifying how a medication is taken.

Orally Disintegrating Tablets versus Sublingual Tablets

Sublingual tablets
These tablets are placed under the tongue and broken down by saliva. The medication is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. Sublingual tablets can start working quickly because they avoid the first pass effect and don’t have to pass through the liver or GI tract.

Orally disintegrating tablets
These tablets dissolve on top of the tongue and shouldn’t be swallowed or chewed. After they disintegrate, a residue is left behind that can be swallowed and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. ODTs are convenient because they don’t require water to consume. They can be useful for patients who are bedridden, elderly, or have kidney failure.

‘25 Influenza Vaccine Recommendation***

The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an annual influenza vaccine for the 2025–26 flu season, barring any contraindications. This year’s updates include a revised vaccine composition based on circulating strains, expanded age eligibility for Flublok (now approved for individuals aged 9 and older), and FDA approval of FluMist (nasal spray) for self- or caregiver administration. Additionally, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) now recommends that children, pregnant individuals, and all adults receive only single-dose, thimerosal-free formulations. Vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce flu-related illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.

1. * fda.gov
2. ** aphanet.pharmacist.com
3. *** cdc.gov