25 February 2021

Medicines associated with swallowing problems

A new practice alert explains which medications are associated with increased risk of choking, and how to support people with disability to reduce this risk.

Key points

• Choking is a major cause of preventable deaths for people with disability.
• Certain medications administered to people with disability can increase this risk.
• These deaths can be prevented by reducing a person’s exposure to factors that may increase their risk of choking. 

​​Practice alert: Medicines associated with swallowing problems

Choking is a major cause of preventable deaths for people with disability. Certain medications administered to people with disability can increase this risk.

We have developed a practice alert called ‘Medicines associated with swallowing problems’, which explains which medicines are associated with swallowing problems, and what you need to be aware of to prevent the choking risks associated with them.

We committed to developing this and other practice alerts in response to the research undertaken by Dr Carmela Salomon and Professor Julian Trollor into the causes and contributors to deaths of people with disability.

The practice alert is available on the NDIS Commission website. Please read and follow the guidance in this practice alert, and share it with your workers who support people with disability who use medications that are associated with swallowing problems.

Contact Us

Call: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines). Our contact centre is open 9am to 4.30pm in the NT, 9.00am to 5.00pm in the ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and VIC Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au

Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au