Opening the capsule

[Shanna]

Hi,

My doctor just put me on Strattera. I got samples, so I haven't been to a pharmacy to ask anyone yet. I noticed the Strattera website says you cannot open the capsule and you must swallow them whole. I have a LOT of trouble with swallowing pills, and these are pretty big so my options are open the capsule or don't take the medicine at all.

So I was wondering has anyone else opened the Strattera capsule and sprinkled the medicine onto applesauce or something and swallowed it this way? Did anything bad happen as a result or was the medicine ineffective?

I'm wondering because I also take Effexor (which also advises taking the pill whole), but it's okay to open those capsules and take them with applesauce.

Thanks!

[Andrew]

I would check with your local pharmacist. Most major pharmacy chains also have 1-800 phone lines you can call and speak to a pharmacist. You might try www.walgreens.com

[Ludger]

I would also suggest you checkwith your local pharmacist. I have trouble with large pills. I called my pharmacist to see if it was alright to chew the pill and was told not to because it was time-released and that it would interfere with the time-release.

[mattj949]

Ive been reading that the powder inside the capsule can damage your esophagus and if you get it in your eyes can cause blindness. I guess it's some sort of acid. Basically any contact with a mucous membrane of any kind is a bad idea.

Your stomach, however can deal with such things.

[Andrew]

Adderal XR capsules can be opened and sprinkled on food.

[Wheel1975]

I remember seeing the warning now, and i thought, "Ok. so who would be putting this in their eyes anyway, to find out that it hurt like the dickens?"

[Dylan's Mom]

My FNP told us we could open and sprinkle.. "she couldn't see why not?"
first & ONLY time we did it he had a reaction at school. they called me from work. his face was beet red and he was very tired.
We didn't do that anymore!

[jaimegerise]

My answer would be, if there's an instruction as to ways of administering a drug, there is a REASON, even if not put so on a package...could be a number of things....in this case could be that...

It messes up the time release mechanism and distributes TOO much medication all at once if a medication is broken when the labeling specifically says not to.