NAIROBI, Kenya — Many parents trying to make medicine easier for their children to swallow could be putting them at serious risk, health experts have warned.
The common practice of crushing tablets or tearing open capsules — often to mix the contents with water or juice — can make medicine less effective or even harmful, doctors say.
But according to medical experts, this widely accepted shortcut can interfere with how a drug works, alter its potency, and lead to dangerous side effects.
A Common but Risky Habit
Dr. Esther Mwaura, a medical practitioner based in Eastleigh, says she encounters this issue almost daily — often rooted in misinformation and self-medication.
“Many people believe capsule shells are made of plastic and cause cancer,” she explains. “That’s false. Capsules are made from gelatin or plant-based materials that dissolve safely in the stomach.”
Dr. Mwaura warns that crushing or opening medication changes how the drug is released in the body.
“When you open a capsule and pour the powder into water, part of the medicine sticks to the container or dissolves unevenly. The dose becomes inaccurate — sometimes too weak to work, other times dangerously strong,” she says.
She adds that exposed powder can corrode the throat, irritate the stomach, or cause infections.
Protective Coatings Serve a Purpose
Capsules and coated tablets are designed for specific absorption points in the body — some dissolve slowly, others only in the intestines.
“Destroying that coating means the medicine may be released too early or too late, making it ineffective or harmful,” Mwaura notes.
Sharing Drugs Within Families
The doctor also raised concern over families sharing medication, especially giving adult prescriptions to children.
“Symptoms may look similar, but prescriptions are based on age, weight, and health condition,” she says. “Splitting adult tablets for kids can cause underdosing or overdosing, and in some cases, severe allergic reactions.”
Safe Alternatives Exist
Dr. Mwaura advises parents to seek professional advice instead of improvising.
“Pharmacies can provide safe options like syrups, dispersible tablets, or soluble powders made specifically for children,” she says. “Always consult a doctor before giving any medicine to a child.”
Studies Reinforce the Warning
A review published in Prescrire International found that crushing or opening tablets can drastically change how medicine behaves in the body.
In some cases, slow-release tablets may dump their entire dose at once — risking overdose — while enteric-coated drugs lose their protective layer, causing stomach irritation or treatment failure.
Experts say any modification to medication should only be done under medical supervision.
“Parents mean well,” says Dr. Mwaura. “But when it comes to medicine, guessing or cutting corners can endanger a child’s life. Always ask a pharmacist or doctor first.”