Home / Medicine Management For Health Professionals / Dysphagia & Swallowing Problems

Dysphagia & Swallowing Problems

Swallowing difficulties and dysphagia

The term “swallowing difficulties” encompasses a range of problems which can affect a person’s ability to swallow solid medication (tablets and capsules); including dysphagia, xerostomia (dry mouth) and a psychological aversion leading to a patient feeling that they can’t swallow capsules and tablets.1

Nurse pouring patients liquid medicine into measuring spoon Pouring liquid medicine into measuring cup

 

Many different types of patients experience swallowing difficulties and it can affect any age group. Dysphagia is more common in older people due to a higher prevalence of causative diseases and age-related changes which impact swallowing function. It’s important that doctors are aware of any issues that a patient may be having swallowing their medication to enable them to make clinically appropriate decisions.2

Patients with dysphagia have complex needs and often present a medication management challenge for several reasons:2

  • Therapeutic outcomes may be compromised in patients who are unable to remain compliant to their medication regime.
  • Tablets and capsules may pose a choking and aspiration risk.
  • There is a risk of a solid medication becoming lodged in the patient’s throat or oesophagus, resulting in incorrect drug dispersal and subsequent changes in efficacy and/or tolerability, as well as possible oesophageal damage.
  • Altering a solid dose medication in order to make swallowing easier for a patient has both medical and legal implications.

Causes of dysphagia and related swallowing problems

Dysphagia describes any impairment of the swallowing process. Dysphagia is not a disease, but a symptom caused by a structural or neurological dysfunction.3

Man on laptop looking out of window Elderly couple

 

The ‘normal’ swallow needs the respiratory, oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal and oesophageal structures to function with one another. This is dependent on the motor and sensory nervous system being intact.4 There are three phases in the physiology of a normal swallow. Any of these phases can malfunction to produce swallowing problems, i.e. ‘dysphagia’- these are set out in the table below:3

Phase Normal function Malfunction
Oral Preparation of food and drink for transit into the pharynx. Once the preparation is complete, a bolus is formed. At the end of the phase, the bolus is propelled backward towards the pharynx by the tongue. Failure to detect material within the mouth can be caused by a sensory or cognitive disturbance.

Uncontrolled material may spill from the lips or into the pharynx. Altered muscle tone affects the action of the jaw, lips, tongue and soft palate disrupting the retention and preparation of the bolus.
Pharyngeal Provides a mechanism to prevent material entering the airway. The main activities are the cessation of breathing and closure of the airway. Aspiration prior to the swallow - Loss of sensation within the pharynx results in absent or delayed initiation of the pharyngeal phase.

Aspiration during the swallow - Incomplete closure of the vocal folds.

Aspiration after the swallow - Incomplete elevation of the larynx results in the failure to clear all material from the pharynx.
Oesophageal Describes the transport of the bolus through the oesophagus, consisting of muscle contractions to transport the bolus. Loss of muscle contractions

Stricture / obstruction

 

If you would like further information, Rosemont provide a range of resources for healthcare professionals related to swallowing difficulties and the associated topic of medicine management, all available to view online. If you have any questions– please contact us.

View References

1. http://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/swallowing_leaflet_-_adults_-_ver_1_-_jul_12.pdf (accessed 17th March 2020) | 2. Wright D, Chapman N, Foundling-Miah M et al. Consensus guideline on the medication management of adults with swallowing difficulties. In: Foord-Kelcey G, editor. Guidelines – summarising clinical guidelines for primary care. 30th ed. Berkhamsted: Medendium Group Publishing Ltd; October 2006. | 3. Wright et al. 2011. Prescribing Medicines for Patients with Dysphagia. A handbook for healthcare professionals. | 4. https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/clinical-information/dysphagia (accessed 19th March)

Baby and parent with medicine

Liquid Medicine

Medication in a liquid form can be a more appropriate format for those who suffer from swallowing difficulties.

Find out more
Doctor at laptop

Resources

Rosemont provide a range of educational materials and product support to assist healthcare professionals.

Find out more
Open all hours

Online Ordering

Register for an account to enable online ordering across our entire range of licensed and unlicensed products.

Find out more
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |Cookie Preferences