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
poster:cache-monkey
thread:384342
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040909/msgs/390833.html