London, Oct. 26 (Reuters): Crushing pills to make them easier to swallow can be dangerous for patients’ health and possibly even fatal, experts warned today.

Pills are frequently broken up to make them easier to take, especially for older people who may struggle to swallow tablets.

But a working party of pharmacists, general practioners and lawyers said today in guidelines being issued to doctors that the process could release the contents of a pill too quickly, leading to potentially harmful reactions.

Often the pill has a specially designed coating which releases the drug over a controlled period of time. If these medications are crushed, the drug is released a lot quicker than intended.

This could be of particular importance when drugs such as morphine are involved. Another is methotrexate, used by those suffering from arthritis and cancer. If crushed, it could kill cells when it comes into contact with the skin.

If Nifedipine, the slow release angina and blood pressure drug, is crushed, patients could suffer dizziness, headaches and an increased risk of stroke or heart attack.

Previous research has shown that 80 per cent of nurses in care homes resort to crushing tablets to help residents take medicines.

David Wright, senior lecturer in pharmacy at the University of East Anglia, who chaired the working party, said alternative methods to crushing are available, including a patch, liquid or inhaler.