Re: Can you safely remove pill capsules?

[Guest guest]

I wouldn’t think that would be a problem. The main thing, I

would think, would be not to lose any of the beads, and to make sure none of

them stay in your mouth when you take a capsule’s-worth. They’d start acting minutely

faster without the need for your digestive system to dissolve the capsule (though

that doesn’t take long). My approach would be to pour the beads directly into

my mouth, then take some swigs or two of water to wash them down.

I know it’s a different thing, but I (and a number of people who

take LDN) take it by opening the capsule and taking part of the contents with

water. There are quite a few drugs one can do that with, if need be. And I

would think it would work especially well with time-release drugs, since they

don’t begin to work immediately.

n, who also has Crohn’s

From:

BTVC-SCD [mailto:BTVC-SCD ] On Behalf Of spookyhurst

Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 5:57 PM

To: BTVC-SCD

Subject: Can you safely remove pill capsules?

I take Pentasa and Effexor XR. Both are

capsules filled with little time release beads. The capsules have some illegals

in them (as do the meds themselves). Is it safe to remove the capsules and just

swallow the little beads? It would be nice to be able to remove a couple more

illegals from my life. I haven't been able to find anything on a web search, so

was hoping one of you might have personal experience.

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

[Guest guest]

I wouldn’t think that would be a problem. The main thing, I

would think, would be not to lose any of the beads, and to make sure none of

them stay in your mouth when you take a capsule’s-worth. They’d start acting minutely

faster without the need for your digestive system to dissolve the capsule (though

that doesn’t take long). My approach would be to pour the beads directly into

my mouth, then take some swigs or two of water to wash them down.

I know it’s a different thing, but I (and a number of people who

take LDN) take it by opening the capsule and taking part of the contents with

water. There are quite a few drugs one can do that with, if need be. And I

would think it would work especially well with time-release drugs, since they

don’t begin to work immediately.

n, who also has Crohn’s

From:

BTVC-SCD [mailto:BTVC-SCD ] On Behalf Of spookyhurst

Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 5:57 PM

To: BTVC-SCD

Subject: Can you safely remove pill capsules?

I take Pentasa and Effexor XR. Both are

capsules filled with little time release beads. The capsules have some illegals

in them (as do the meds themselves). Is it safe to remove the capsules and just

swallow the little beads? It would be nice to be able to remove a couple more

illegals from my life. I haven't been able to find anything on a web search, so

was hoping one of you might have personal experience.

Holly

Crohn's

SCD 12/01/08

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

I actually do not think this is a good idea.

I would speak to a knowledgeable pharmacist about this one- I think we have a

previous pharmacist on list somewhere?

Anyway- please proceed with caution. They are in a capsule for a reason.

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Medicine exists capsules only as the likeliest and best means,

most of the time, to get them into a person’s stomach – and in the case of

Pentasa, past the stomach and into the gut, which is why it’s a time-released

drug. (I’ve taken Pentasa. I know what it looks and how it acts.) Obviously one

wouldn’t want to suck on the beads, just swallow them fast. However, I don’t at

all disagree with the advice to consult a pharmacist.

n

From:

BTVC-SCD [mailto:BTVC-SCD ] On Behalf Of jodah235

Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 8:21 PM

To: BTVC-SCD

Subject: Re: Can you safely remove pill capsules?

Hi Holly,

I actually do not think this is a good idea.

I would speak to a knowledgeable pharmacist about this one- I think we have a

previous pharmacist on list somewhere?

Anyway- please proceed with caution. They are in a capsule for a reason.

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Medicine exists capsules only as the likeliest and best means,

most of the time, to get them into a person’s stomach – and in the case of

Pentasa, past the stomach and into the gut, which is why it’s a time-released

drug. (I’ve taken Pentasa. I know what it looks and how it acts.) Obviously one

wouldn’t want to suck on the beads, just swallow them fast. However, I don’t at

all disagree with the advice to consult a pharmacist.

n

From:

BTVC-SCD [mailto:BTVC-SCD ] On Behalf Of jodah235

Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 8:21 PM

To: BTVC-SCD

Subject: Re: Can you safely remove pill capsules?

Hi Holly,

I actually do not think this is a good idea.

I would speak to a knowledgeable pharmacist about this one- I think we have a

previous pharmacist on list somewhere?

Anyway- please proceed with caution. They are in a capsule for a reason.

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

I am the person who used to be a pharmacist. I am now a dentist. Most pill capsules are made of gelatin, and therefore are NOT illegal. The illegal part is in the formulation of the extended release bead. A time release pill should never be crushed as you then lose the benefit of the time release, and could in fact overdose. Since the capsules are probably gelatin, there is no reason to open them, except if you could not swallow. In that case, I know in nursing homes, they put the medicine in a very small amount of applesauce, which is immediately eaten. If you know for a fact that the capsules are made of something different than gelatin, I would be curious what they are made of.

Terry

-----

[Guest guest]

The pentasa capsules have blue food coloring in them, among other things. Here

are all the ingredients (so many ugly inactives):

" Each 500 mg capsule contains 500 mg of mesalamine. It also contains the

following inactive ingredients: acetylated monoglyceride, castor oil, colloidal

silicon dioxide, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, starch, stearic

acid, sugar, talc, and white wax. The capsule shell contains FD & C Blue #1,

gelatin, titanium dioxide, and other ingredients. "

The effexor has a reddish brown color, which is probably from the iron oxide. I

couldn't find a source that differentiated which ingredients were in the

capsule, and which were in the medicine though:

" Effexor XR contains venlafaxine hydrochloride, an antidepressant. Inactive

ingredients consist of cellulose, ethylcellulose, gelatin, hypromellose, iron

oxide, and titanium dioxide. "

I did find the applesauce idea on the effexor website:

" The capsule can also be carefully opened and its contents sprinkled onto a

spoonful of applesauce. This should be swallowed immediately and followed by

drinking a glass of water. Do not chew this mixture before swallowing. "

Thanks for the help everyone!!!

Holly

>

> Hi Holly,

>

> I am the person who used to be a pharmacist. I am now a dentist. Most pill

capsules are made of gelatin, and therefore are NOT illegal. The illegal part is

in the formulation of the extended release bead. A time release pill should

never be crushed as you then lose the benefit of the time release, and could in

fact overdose. Since the capsules are probably gelatin, there is no reason to

open them, except if you could not swallow. In that case, I know in nursing

homes, they put the medicine in a very small amount of applesauce, which is

immediately eaten. If you know for a fact that the capsules are made of

something different than gelatin, I would be curious what they are made of.

>

> Terry

> -----

>