Was wondering if anyone has any tips/advice for dealing with "Timed Release" or other capsules/pills that can't be crushed. How do you deal with it ?

Capsules or caplets?

Capsules usually can be broken or cut w/ a knife to get to the contents...the capsule is just that... a capsule to hold something. But be careful, I did this once to one and the little dots / balls just went everywhere!

I did have one pill at an ER once, well, twice, because my potassium was so low...but I just ate it. You gotta do whatcha gotta do.

I just swallow them. I have been able to swallow anything from day one (and my doctor does not believe in crushing pills unless you have a problem).

I can take any size with a decent drink of Water. Don't worry about it!

You have to talk to your doctor and pharm person. At time you can use a pill chopper and cut them really small. Other times, there is an alternative for the big pills... but know in advance they never taste good. You have to work it out with the doctors and pharm personal.

Yeah, never cut, crush or chew ANY time release medicine, you end up getting all the medication at once instead of a small amount over time. If they're not large, you can probably just swallow them with no problem. I've only had trouble with pills one time, and that is because I took two at once. It was uncomfortable for a few minutes.

Yes, do not ever ever ever EVER crush or break open a time release pill, it can kill you!

The only time release I take sometimes is Prilosec, and I'm able to swallow them fine even on a tight day.

Yes, do not ever ever ever EVER crush or break open a time release pill, it can kill you!

Just quoting it because I don't think that can be emphasized enough....

Ok, the reason I made this thread is because I was under the impression that bandsters have trouble swallowing pills, and so I wanted to know what are the alternatives used, especially for those pills that are timed released (where it is more complicated). I gather from the responses to this thread that, swallowing pills is not such a big challenge for u guys? If this is the case then sorry for the useless thread :huh2:

It's totally not a useless thread! Please don't feel bad for posting it. The thing is, if you DO find yourself having trouble with pills, talk with your doc about prescribing non-time release pills or talk with your pharmacist about what you can do, maybe they will have another solution for you.

Good luck!

If you do have a problem, talk to the pharmacist.....we use the Target pharmacy and I am always amazed at the length they will go to to make sure everything is right!

If you have a problem with a medication....talk to the pharmacist and they should contact the doctor and work something out for you...it's easier for them to talk 'shop' than for us to try and interpret and relay!

My two cents. I started out crushing all my pills because I was told to swallow "nothing bigger than a pencil eraser." Then, I accidentally took a big one and nothing happened. So I did it again, and again, and again. No problem with any pills. Maybe it's just a problem for freshly banded folks and for folks who gets their bands really tight?

For me when I have restriction (I am currently unfilled) my birth control pills and my welbutrin xl pill have never been an issue. It's the big horse pills that get me, and I've never had a pill that size that was extended release, so I cut those in half.

Ditto everyone here that says DON'T crush, chew or cut a time release pill. My doc put me on prevacid solutab <melts in your mouth> if I need it for heartburn but so far so good! We have MANY ppl come in the pharmacy and ask this very thing so it's not a useless thread!

Everybody is different. I was banded in 10/07 & didn't have ANY problems with my pills until my 3rd fill, which was just on Tuesady the 1st. I take 1 small pill, 1 daily vitamin, which is a little bit bigger, and an Omega 3/fish oil pill, which is damn big!!!! Since my 3rd fill the other day, it has hurt every morning when I take them. It eventually passes, but I need to do something because it hurt too bad. So, no at first I had no problems, and now I am. The fish oil pill is not one you can crush either or cut in 1/2 so I don't know about that one or what to do about it. The other 2 that I take starting tomorrow, I will be breaking them in 1/2.

I've never had a problem swallowing pills. As a matter of fact, I got these "Silica Complex" vitamin thingys in the mail yesterday and they are huge! Longer than an 800 mg Motrin but about as thick. I was a little concerned but it went down with no problem. I bought them because they are suppose to help with your hair, nails and skin and I can use any help I can get right about now!

This thread isn't unless. I have two very tiny time release that don't give me any problems. However, the big ones are a different story. That is why you have to work it out with the doctors and pharamists. I use Walgreens and they are like Target- they really keep good track and are willing to help you out. The pharamist have my filed marked for no huge pills. So if a prescribe is given to me that is a big pill... the pharamists kindly calls my doctor and they work it out. I is critical to just talk to those that handle the medicines and not take it into your own hands. By the way, very useful thread for those getting banded, doing research about banding, and creating new medications.