People who take medication are being urged to avoid making a major error which could have harmful consequences
13:20, 19 Feb 2026Updated 13:52, 19 Feb 2026
Anyone taking medication is urged to avpoid a potentially dangerous error(Image: KM6064 via Getty Images)
A seemingly innocent mistake when taking medication could have serious consequences, a pharmacist has warned. Millions of people regularly take tablets and a pharmacist, known online as Pharmacist Anum, has explained how an error during this routine could actually result in harm, reports the Mirror.
Crushing, cutting or opening capsules may seem like a ‘simple fix’ for anyone finding it difficult to swallow medication but the pharmacist tells people not to do it as it can result in some serious issues and even make the medication less effective. In a recent clip, she said: “Did you know that crushing your tablets, or opening capsules and just taking the powder, can be dangerous?
“Yes, you heard that correctly. Not all tablets are suitable to be crushed and not all capsules are suitable to be opened.”
She added: “Some are modified release so, if you are crushing these tablets or opening the capsules, you could impact the release profile of the medication, meaning that it might not last as long and you can increase the risk of side effects.” She explained some tablets have an ‘enteric’ coating – the type of covering that allows them to pass through the stomach and dissolve in the intestine – which can help to protect the stomach from the medication as well as protect the medication from the acid in the stomach.
“You do not want to be tampering with this coating,” she said. “More concerningly, some tablets and capsules can be irritating and harmful to you if touched once they’ve been crushed.
“So, before taking matters into your own hands, if you’re struggling to swallow your medication, please speak with your pharmacist or GP so they can discuss your options. It could be liquids, it could be smaller tablets, but have that discussion first.”
What you need to know
Never crush medication before taking it without consulting a pharmacist or doctor first. This is because it can destroy the medication’s effectiveness, cause dangerous overdoses or result in harmful side effects.
While some tablets can be crushed, extended-release, enteric-coated or specialised medications should not be altered in any way. When these medications – such as. XL, XR, CR – are crushed, this can lead to the entire dose being released at once which can cause toxicity.
Anyone struggling to take medication should consult their GP to see if there is a better alternative available. There are times when the GP may advise that it is safe to crush the medication and in this instance a designated tablet crusher or pill-splitter should be used to ensure the full dose is retained
Concerns about medication or health in general should be raised with a GP. NHS guidance also may be available on its website here.
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