Off-laber drug use via enteral feeding tubes: divergent information

Abstract

The use of enteral feeding tubes as a route of drug administration is a common hospital practice, often these drugs are used off label, therefore presenting a lack of cohesive manufacturers’ technical information and literature, which makes it difficult the choice of a more appropriate pharmaceutical form and dosage. Objectives: Analyze information available about the use of medication via enteral feeding tubes, its coherence and general recommendations. Methods: Survey of the most consumed solid medications for oral delivery in intense therapy units from Private Hospital in São Paulo, and technical information raised from diverse literature consulted in the hospital. Results: The study evaluated 89 medications, from which 27 obtained contradictory information about the use and 14 obtained incoherent pharmacokinetics information. Conclusions: The interpretation of information available, often qualitatively and quantitatively insufficient, is primary for the most suitable medication choice by the healthcare team. The work enabled the gathering of information from several literatures in an objective and systematic way, demonstrating the need for more scientific studies on the use of these drugs, so that better use is grounded and that research sources are standardized.