Characterization of drugs administered through tubes of nutrition and possible drug interaction – enteral nutrition

Abstract

Introduction: After many years of its use in clinical practice, nutrition probes are increasingly being used for nutrient intake and drug administration when oral ingestion is impossible. If not properly planned, its use for administration of medications may result in potential complications such as catheter obstruction, reduced drug efficacy, increased adverse effects, and incompatibility of drugs with enteral diet components. Goals: The present study aimed to categorize the drugs prescribed by the nutrition probe, looking for possible interactions between the drugs and the enteral diet of hospitalized patients. Methods: This is a retrospective, quantitative, exploratory work with documentary analysis, taking as prescribing the prescriptions of the patients hospitalized in the emergency ICU. Results: During the study months, 403 patients were hospitalized, and 181 (44.91%) patients met the inclusion criteria. 35 drugs prescribed to be administered by enteral catheter were identified and classified according to the second level of the ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical) classification, resulting in 22 therapeutic classes. For most drugs, solid dosage forms, corresponding to 86% (n = 30), followed by 14% (n = 5) of liquid dosage forms were prescribed. The predominant pharmaceutical form was the tablet (n = 18). Of the 35 drugs prescribed to be administered by catheter, 10 (28.57%) drugs had potential enteral drug-nutrition interactions. The drugs identified were: atenolol, captopril, carbamazepine, haloperidol, hydrochlorothiazide, aluminum hydroxide, lactulose, levothyroxine, nimodipine, warfarin. Conclusions: Thus, the need for standardization in the administration of probe medications in patients receiving enteral nutrition is noted.