Medications that should not be crushed 
CR/CRT= Controlled Release
EC/EN = Enteric Coated
LA = Long Acting
MR = Modified Release
SA = Sustained Action
SR = Sustained Release
ER/XR/XL = Extended Release
- Crushing a sublingual or buccal tablet may cause the drug to be ineffective
- Enteric-coated tablets that are crushed can released the drug too early and may be destroyed by stomach acid or irritate the stomach lining
- Extended release should not be crushed because they may cause an increased risk of adverse effects or potentially deliver a toxic dose of the active ingredient. (this also goes with the other abbreviated formulations above)
- Crushing products with carcinogenic/teratogenic may expose handlers to health risks through aerosolization of the product
Breast cancer meds = Cancer medication Tamoxifen is dangerous if inhaled by the person crushing it. Other chemo drugs should not be crushed because it could be fatal.
Pain killers = Crushing Morphine for example could lead to a faster release that is potentially fatal
Blood pressure meds = Nifedipine for example increases the risk of stroke if crushed
EXTRA : Regular medications active ingredients are released in the stomach
Enteric coated tablets active ingredients are not released in the stomach instead they are released in the small intestine
