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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Pattisun on June 8, 2002, at 12:49:10
I got an RX for Prozac to help me get myself off of Paxil. I tried last year but was only able to get myself down to 10mg (been taking it since 1996). I am depressed but want to get OFF Paxil first before I try anything else.
So, I was ready to start this morning and found that the Prozac 20 mg (insurance only covers generic) ONLY comes in capsules. I am supposed to cut my Paxil down to 5 mg and start Prozac at 10 mg. How do I cut a capsule in half?
Grrrrrrrrr Now What?? Thanks,
Pattisun
Posted by Phil on June 8, 2002, at 13:05:47
In reply to HELP! Paxil to Prozac...how do I split capsules?, posted by Pattisun on June 8, 2002, at 12:49:10
You can pour the contents into a small glass of juice, stir well, drink half. Drink the rest tomorrow. No grapefruit juice. It can be a problem with some meds.
Posted by Xevious on June 8, 2002, at 13:12:25
In reply to HELP! Paxil to Prozac...how do I split capsules?, posted by Pattisun on June 8, 2002, at 12:49:10
A suggestion - don't open the capsules! Fluoxetine tastes absolutely lousy and tends to burn the back of my throat (had one crack open in my mouth once) so I don't recommend the experience to anyone else.First thing to do is to consult with your pdoc for the official advice.
That said, if you are still supposed to take 10mg/day, you will probably be fine taking one capsule every other day. Fluoxetine has a very long half-life, so your blood levels will tend to stabilize across the dose/no dose days and you shouldn't even notice the difference between the days that you took a pill and the days you didn't. This, by the way, is exactly how the Prozac Weekly med works.
> I got an RX for Prozac to help me get myself off of Paxil. I tried last year but was only able to get myself down to 10mg (been taking it since 1996). I am depressed but want to get OFF Paxil first before I try anything else.
>
> So, I was ready to start this morning and found that the Prozac 20 mg (insurance only covers generic) ONLY comes in capsules. I am supposed to cut my Paxil down to 5 mg and start Prozac at 10 mg. How do I cut a capsule in half?
>
> Grrrrrrrrr Now What?? Thanks,
>
> Pattisun
Posted by Phil on June 8, 2002, at 14:43:56
In reply to Re: HELP! Paxil to Prozac...how do I split capsules?, posted by Xevious on June 8, 2002, at 13:12:25
Good point on every other day but mixing it with juice has been official advice for years. Whatever pops your bubble will be fine.
Posted by Iago Camboa on June 9, 2002, at 13:29:56
In reply to Re: HELP! Paxil to Prozac...how do I split capsules? » Xevious, posted by Phil on June 8, 2002, at 14:43:56
So if I suspect I could be very sensitive to Prozac and want to try first 5mg, I should take the 20mg pill and wait 4 days to find out how I feel day 4. But if I am really sensitive to the med I could of course be dead day 1, so NO THANK YOU! It'a a cretin idea IMHO. I prefer Phil's juice method.
Iago
Posted by Pattisun on June 9, 2002, at 14:09:41
In reply to Re: HELP! Prozac...how do I split capsules?, posted by Iago Camboa on June 9, 2002, at 13:29:56
Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll go to the pharmacy tomorrow morning and complain--and then try to exchange them for 10 mg tablets/scored tablets/or liquid. I really only want to take the Prozac long enough to help with the hellish Paxil withdrawal. <sigh>
If they can't exchange them, I'll just have to split the capsules. I appreciate the help.
Pattisun
Posted by Xevious on June 10, 2002, at 17:54:07
In reply to Re: HELP! Prozac...how do I split capsules?, posted by Iago Camboa on June 9, 2002, at 13:29:56
No, contrary to your suggestion, I'm not of mediterranean heritage... ;)
If you re-read my post, you'll find that I recommended she consult with her doc, first and foremost. I then suggested that she consider taking one 20mg capsule every other day to approximate a dose of 10mg daily, which you will find is common practice for this particular drug.
There was never a mention about taking 20mg capsules for an indicated dosage of 5mg/day, nor was there any mention of concerns for possible Prozac sensitivity.
> So if I suspect I could be very sensitive to Prozac and want to try first 5mg, I should take the 20mg pill and wait 4 days to find out how I feel day 4. But if I am really sensitive to the med I could of course be dead day 1, so NO THANK YOU! It'a a cretin idea IMHO. I prefer Phil's juice method.
>
> Iago
Posted by Iago Camboa on June 11, 2002, at 6:07:49
In reply to Re: HELP! Prozac...how do I split capsules? » Iago Camboa, posted by Xevious on June 10, 2002, at 17:54:07
Since you spoke (who knows why?) of 'Mediterranean heritage', it came to my mind an Ancient Greek (some 2600 years old) saying about the nature of 'disputes' such as the one you are trying to 'enrich' this Board with: "PERI ONOU SKIAS", in plain English "about the shadow of an ass", that is to say "a void discussion about nothing"...
Now my child when I said 'it's a CRETIN idea' I meant just that, in other words 'it's a stupid idea' (as I maintain it is) without any supposed (or implied) sense other than 'it's not a bright idea that one'. 'Cretin' is a word that came from the Swiss French 'creitin', 'crestin' from Latin Christianus meaning Christian... The word 'cretin' suggests to me the sense 'of Mediterranean heritage' just as much as the word 'stupid' suggests the sense 'of Vietnamese heritage' to anyone in their right mind.
And it is the idea which is supposed to be stupid, not you yourself nor anyone else who is being so qualified. I would never (and shall be never the first to) use any 'ad hominem' argument whatsoever to qualify an idea, that FYI. Now go chill your head and have a nice day!Iago
> No, contrary to your suggestion, I'm not of mediterranean heritage... ;)
>
> If you re-read my post, you'll find that I recommended she consult with her doc, first and foremost. I then suggested that she consider taking one 20mg capsule every other day to approximate a dose of 10mg daily, which you will find is common practice for this particular drug.
>
> There was never a mention about taking 20mg capsules for an indicated dosage of 5mg/day, nor was there any mention of concerns for possible Prozac sensitivity.
>
>
> > So if I suspect I could be very sensitive to Prozac and want to try first 5mg, I should take the 20mg pill and wait 4 days to find out how I feel day 4. But if I am really sensitive to the med I could of course be dead day 1, so NO THANK YOU! It'a a cretin idea IMHO. I prefer Phil's juice method.
> >
> > Iago
Posted by Schuyler on June 11, 2002, at 8:17:37
In reply to Re: HELP! Paxil to Prozac...how do I split capsules? » Pattisun, posted by Phil on June 8, 2002, at 13:05:47
> You can pour the contents into a small glass of juice, stir well, drink half. Drink the rest tomorrow. No grapefruit juice. It can be a problem with some meds.
My psychiatrist recommended cranberry juice --- to disguise the awful taste, I suppose. Ask your pdoc.
Schuyler
This is the end of the thread.
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