Posted by Ueli (195.162.170.2) on September 22, 2000 at 08:25:52:
In Reply to: Glad it's working, but I've got a question about breaking the timed release caplets... posted by John B on September 21, 2000 at 21:06:58:
There are different kind of time release medications.
Some pills have a special coating, that, by example, let it pass the stomach as a whole (because the med could be degraded by the stomach acid) and releases the contents only in the intestines. Obviously, such pills shouldn't be broken.
Other pills contain lots of tiny capsules that dissolve slowly; the active ingredient may be adsorbed to an inert carrier and be released slowly; or the med may be modified chemically so it must be metabolized first to free the active agent. There is no problem in breaking up such pills.
Usually, the leaflet should tell you if it allowed to break a pill or not.