Medication Management

Safe medication administration is one of the most critical tasks in care settings and clinical practice. HaseMed offers well-designed aids that simplify crushing, splitting, and organising tablets — for care facilities, pharmacies, and home use.

Pill Crushers: Manual or with Storage

A pill crusher is needed when patients have difficulty swallowing whole tablets or when medication must be administered via a feeding tube. HaseMed offers two variants:

• Manual pill crusher: Compact, easy to clean, and ideal for mobile use. The textured inner surface produces fine, even powder.
• Pill crusher with storage compartment: Features an integrated compartment where the crushed medication can be safely stored until administration. Particularly practical for preparing medication in advance.

Be sure to clean the crusher thoroughly after each medication to avoid cross-contamination. Not all medications may be crushed — sustained-release or enteric-coated tablets generally must not be ground.

Tablet Splitters: Precise and Safe

Tablet splitters enable the precise halving of tablets when a lower dosage is needed or the doctor has prescribed half a tablet. A good splitter should have a sharp stainless steel blade and hold the tablet securely to prevent slipping. The HaseMed tablet splitter features an integrated holder and a catch tray for the split halves.

Tablet Crushers

A tablet crusher grinds tablets through a twist mechanism, producing particularly fine powder. Compared to a mortar, operation is simpler and the result more uniform. The HaseMed crusher is especially suited for caregivers who prepare multiple medications for different patients daily.

Medication Dispensers: Keeping Track

Medication dispensers (pill organisers) help plan weekly medication intake. They are available in 7-day formats with up to 4 compartments per day. For elderly patients or those in care requiring multiple medications, they are indispensable. Look for clearly labelled compartments and easy-to-open clasps.

Correct use of medication management aids protects patients from dosage errors and extends product life. Follow these recommendations for safe handling.

Using a Pill Crusher Correctly

Place the tablet in the centre of the crusher and turn the pestle with steady pressure until a fine powder forms. Avoid jerky movements, as these lead to uneven crushing. For hard tablets, it can help to quarter them first with a tablet splitter.

• Cleaning: Rinse the crusher under running water after each medication. For fat-soluble active ingredients, use warm water with mild detergent.
• Disinfection: In care facilities, the crusher should be treated daily with a surface disinfectant.
• Non-crushable medications: Sustained-release tablets, enteric-coated capsules, and cytostatic drugs must not be crushed. Consult your pharmacist if in doubt.

Tablet Splitter: Tips for Clean Cuts

Position the tablet with the score line facing up in the holder. Press the lid down firmly and evenly with your thumb. For tablets without a score line, the cut may be uneven — in this case, discuss alternatives with your doctor (e.g. drops or liquid formulations).

The HaseMed tablet splitter features a replaceable stainless steel blade. Replace the blade when cuts become uneven or the blade is visibly dull.

Preparing Medication Dispensers

Ideally fill the dispenser once a week at the same time. Work in a quiet environment and verify the medication against the current medication plan. Label each compartment clearly with the day of the week and time of day (morning, noon, evening, night).

HaseMed dispensers are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean when needed. Store the filled dispenser out of reach of children.

Medication management aids must meet high safety requirements to ensure error-free drug administration. The relevant standards and guidelines provide a reliable framework.

EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745)

Pill crushers, tablet splitters, and crushers are classified as Class I medical devices when intended for the crushing or splitting of pharmaceuticals. They are subject to MDR 2017/745 and must bear a CE marking. HaseMed medication management products are conformity-assessed and marked in accordance with the MDR.

DIN EN ISO 13485: Quality Management for Medical Devices

This standard defines quality management requirements for the manufacture of medical devices. For pill crushers and splitters, this means: complete traceability of materials used, documented manufacturing processes, and regular quality checks. HaseMed works exclusively with manufacturers certified to ISO 13485.

Food Contact Materials Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004

Since pill crushers and medication dispensers come into direct contact with pharmaceuticals, the plastics used must comply with the EU regulation on food contact materials. This ensures that no harmful substances are transferred to the medication. Materials must be BPA-free and approved for repeated contact with food or pharmaceuticals.

Pharmaceutical Law Considerations

Crushing and splitting tablets constitutes a modification of the approved medicinal product. In Germany, this should be carried out by a pharmaceutical professional or on medical instruction. In care facilities, documentation is required for which medications are crushed and whether this has been approved by the prescribing physician.

• Sustained-release medications: Crushing removes the sustained-release mechanism and can lead to dangerous overdoses.
• Enteric-coated medications: Are destroyed by stomach acid when the protective coating is removed through crushing.
• Cytostatic drugs: Must not be crushed due to hazardous dust exposure.