Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 384342

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Splitting capsules

Posted by sdjeff on August 30, 2004, at 21:18:23

Hi

My pdoc just gave me some samples of Duloxentine to try out. One minor problem: I have a marked intolerance to AD's at large and he wants me to split the capsules. They are 30 mg caps and he wants me to try 15 mg.

Any recommendations on best ways to split up these capsules?

Wishing duloxentine came in tablets,

Jeff

 

Re: Splitting capsules » sdjeff

Posted by Fred23 on August 30, 2004, at 21:26:36

In reply to Splitting capsules, posted by sdjeff on August 30, 2004, at 21:18:23

> Any recommendations on best ways to split up these capsules?

If you have a supply of the same size gel caps from a health food store, you can pour half of the orginal capsule into a new capsule, levelling them by eyeball, giving you two capsules of half strength.


 

Re: Splitting capsules-sdjeff

Posted by Cecilia on August 31, 2004, at 1:17:16

In reply to Splitting capsules, posted by sdjeff on August 30, 2004, at 21:18:23

sdjeff, you need a new doctor. Duloxetine is enteric coated, which means it should NOT be split. It states this on the prescribing info, which your doctor obviously hasn`t bothered to read. Sometimes I get so angry when I think about how much doctors get paid and how ignorant they can be (Personal rant). I too wish duloxetine came in tablets, or better still liquid so I could start at a miniscule dose. I keep thinking about how sick effexor made me and worrying about whether duloxetine will do the same. I`m definitely planning to insist on starting on the 20 mg capsules. Cecilia

 

Re: Splitting capsules

Posted by Sebastian on August 31, 2004, at 12:05:04

In reply to Splitting capsules, posted by sdjeff on August 30, 2004, at 21:18:23

Dump the powder out and cut it inhalf with a knife, card.

 

Re: Splitting capsules

Posted by Dinah on August 31, 2004, at 19:59:45

In reply to Splitting capsules, posted by sdjeff on August 30, 2004, at 21:18:23

I routinely have to do it with dog capsules. I just use extra gelcaps, a razor, and a glass surface. I split Celexa capsules into eighths that way with no problem so far. It sure is tedious though.

 

Re: Splitting capsules-more questions

Posted by sdjeff on August 31, 2004, at 22:06:51

In reply to Splitting capsules, posted by sdjeff on August 30, 2004, at 21:18:23

Thanks all for the info.

I was wondering if I could put half a dose in a liquid, like water and just drink it. Also, what is meant by "enteric coated"?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

Re: Splitting capsules

Posted by Cecilia on September 1, 2004, at 1:00:25

In reply to Re: Splitting capsules-more questions, posted by sdjeff on August 31, 2004, at 22:06:51

Enteric coating means the capsule is coated with something to prevent it from being dissolved until it reaches the intestines (to prevent stomach irritation). Most capsules are not enteric coated, but those that are, like duloxetine, should not be split. Cecilia

 

Re: Splitting capsules

Posted by 4WD on September 1, 2004, at 21:09:21

In reply to Re: Splitting capsules, posted by Cecilia on September 1, 2004, at 1:00:25

> Enteric coating means the capsule is coated with something to prevent it from being dissolved until it reaches the intestines (to prevent stomach irritation). Most capsules are not enteric coated, but those that are, like duloxetine, should not be split. Cecilia

IT's not just to avoid irritating the stomach, though. It's because the rate of absorption is different in the acid environment of the stomach. It is meant to be absorbed in the intestine in that particular ph.

Marsha

 

Re: Splitting capsules

Posted by justplainflakey on September 2, 2004, at 1:51:59

In reply to Re: Splitting capsules, posted by 4WD on September 1, 2004, at 21:09:21

This is an interesting topic, as I have observed quit differant responces in my own reaction depending if I am using a split tablet or not with zyprexa. Splitting is like reducing the dose by much more than half. Pill splitters are at least simple to use though, capsules whould be more of a challange. Don't most of them have neutral ingredients as well as active ones?

 

Re: Splitting capsules » justplainflakey

Posted by Larry Hoover on September 2, 2004, at 6:24:19

In reply to Re: Splitting capsules, posted by justplainflakey on September 2, 2004, at 1:51:59

> This is an interesting topic, as I have observed quit differant responces in my own reaction depending if I am using a split tablet or not with zyprexa. Splitting is like reducing the dose by much more than half.

Some substances are enteric coated because they can be inactivated by stomach acid. Hydrochloric acid is a rather powerful chemical. If you split an enteric coated pill, the contents are no longer protected.

> Pill splitters are at least simple to use though, capsules whould be more of a challange. Don't most of them have neutral ingredients as well as active ones?

I'll assume that you're talking about the binders and other excipients (inactive ingredients), which generally make up the majority of the mass of a pill, and the drug, or active ingredient in the pill.

These different substances are blended for many hours in a special machine that somewhat resembles a clothes dryer, but without the heat. It's only when the mixture becomes uniform that it is allowed to be pressed into pills, as the pill-making machine measures the mixture by volume and/or mass. Only a uniform mixture will give exact dose based on those measures.

What that means is that a pill itself ought to be uniform in concentration of the active ingredient. The closer you come to exactly dividing a pill into two pieces, the closer you ought to come to getting an dose exactly half of the original pill.

Lar

 

Re: Splitting capsules » sdjeff

Posted by cache-monkey on September 14, 2004, at 21:03:49

In reply to Splitting capsules, posted by sdjeff on August 30, 2004, at 21:18:23

> My pdoc just gave me some samples of Duloxentine to try out. One minor problem: I have a marked intolerance to AD's at large and he wants me to split the capsules. They are 30 mg caps and he wants me to try 15 mg.
>
> Any recommendations on best ways to split up these capsules?

I went through the same deal with my psychiatrist -- both for med sensitivity and because I have a ridiculously low prescription cap. I was a little sketched out at first, too.

I looked into it a bit more and I guess Cymbalta's a gelcap filled with enteric coated pellets. Based on what I've found out from talking to a local pharmacist and on the web, the gelcap itself is just to make sure the pellets get down smoothly and don't get lodged in your mouth or throat. It pretty much dissolves immediately in your stomach.

The enteric coating is to protect it from the acid in your stomach -- I guess the drug is supposed to be digested in the intestines. You don't want to cut, crush or otherwise degrade the Cymbalta pellets. (And you definitely don't want to mix them into a glass of OJ or anything else acid.)

But, seperating the pellets into two roughly equal doses shouldn't pose a problem, assuming you can make sure they get delivered to your stomach intact.

I'm debating whether or not to get empty gelcaps or not. I'd be interested to hear what your experience has been.

> Wishing duloxentine came in tablets,

Me too!

cache-monkey

 

Re: Splitting capsules-Cymbalta

Posted by Cecilia on September 18, 2004, at 1:04:07

In reply to Re: Splitting capsules » sdjeff, posted by cache-monkey on September 14, 2004, at 21:03:49

I talked to my doctor about this today, and he thought the capsules themselves were enteric coated. He thought it would probably be ok to dump out half the pellets and put the capsule back together before taking it, but not to take the pellets alone. But this would only work if the capsules are 2-part, not if they come in one enclosed capsule. Anyone know which way the Cymbalta capsules come? And anyone know how you can get hold of the 20 mg capsules? Someone wrote they were taking them, but I called about 20 pharmicies today. half had never heard of Cymbalta, the other half said they only had the 30 and 60mg capsules. Finally one pharmacist said the company wasn`t distributing the 20 mg capsules yet. I guess I`ll start with the 30 mg capsules, but I`m dreading it so much. It`s like planning a date to get very very sick. I hate Eli Lilly and Co. for being so greedy and not making this med in a way that you can start on a small dose. I know it`s not going to work anyway-I`ve tried at least 30 meds and nothing has ever worked, but it`s like a compulsion, I have to try it, no matter how sick it makes me, just in case it might work. Cecilia

 

Re: Splitting capsules-Cymbalta » Cecilia

Posted by divergentreality on September 18, 2004, at 14:57:47

In reply to Re: Splitting capsules-Cymbalta, posted by Cecilia on September 18, 2004, at 1:04:07

Hi Cecilia,

I also had the same problem when trying to fill my prescription for the 20 mg.dose of Cymbalta. Both Savon and Walgreens said that they only had 30 and 60 mg., but that they could order the 20 mg. and that I would be able to pick it up the next day. So I had the prescription filled at Savon because it was closer. I have been taking 20 mg. once a day for 9 days now. Hope this helps.

Deb


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