Pills, Tablets, Caplet, chewables

I am a bit confused. I have read discussion on the main board about people having to crush their tablets before swallowing. My assumption was that this was because of the risk of getting a pill, Tablets, Caplet, etc. stuck and forming a blockage. but recently I read a post of a woman that had a miscarriage due to her BC pill not being fully absorbed, and someone else comment on their Prozac not being fully absorbed and having to take a higher dosage. I take 4 chewable Optisource vitamin tablets a day, plus a chewable fiber choice tablet, and I take 1500 mg of Glucosamine in a tablet form that I do not crush, but is the size of 3/8 length and 1/4 in diameter. All of these usually on an empty stomach and all at the same time in the morning (well, just two of the chewable Optisource vitamin tablets in the morning, but you get the idea) I have never had the Glucosamine tablet get stuck, but now I wonder if it is being fully absorbed? I use it to help keep my hip functioning due to some bone spurs, but I wonder how much is actually being put to use? Does anyone, have an better understanding on the crushing for absorption issue regarding Glucosamine or other similar dietary supplements?

 

Someone (maybe it was Dx) suggested putting your pills into warm water and timing how long it took them to dissolve.  After five minutes, many of them will be a mush (they may appear intact, but touching them makes them disintegrate).  Those should be fine for absorption.  If they are still hard and solid after five minutes, then you should probably consider crushing/chewing or another delivery method. You should also be aware that many medications are time release coated (usually capsules, with lots of little mini-capsules inside, or else coated tablets).  This is supposed to be a better delivery method for some drugs, but many drug companies also do it to extend their patents on drugs (add time-release, get a new patent, market like crazy to prevent generic competition).  Anyway, some time release drugs work fine after WLS, but others may need to be released by a certain point in the intestine, and consequently become less effective.  If a drug seems less effective, you may talk to your doctor about switching to a non-time release version (which may be cheaper, may also require more pills per day, though).

Here's a cut-and-paste of the Dx Posts (from another board): I used to read all the time on the Grads Board of folks- Not absorbing their Vitamins, Which Vitamins to Take, Avoid, etc… Thought I’d pass on an old tip from my Doc. Early on chew them! That’s why so many of the Docs prescribe Children’s Chew-ables and Tums for Calcium. These are Great early on, but not enough Calcium or Vitamins Later.  Just cruise the Grads Board and read some of the crap that happens to folks who don’t get in enough Vitamins, and you’ll be "All About" some Vitamins! (not for Banders, it’s not a problem they face) So, Here’s the tip- If you don’t get the chewable adult vitamins- like Bariatric Vitamins Or Centrum Silver or such, you run the risk of the Vitamin passing on by Your "receptor sites" in your intestines before they have time to dissolve. A lot of pill go plunk in the toilet from By-passers. But, you don’t have to keep chewing all of your pills Once your past those first months and over the surgical trauma. Take your pill and place it in a cup of warm water. If after 5 minutes, it’s not dissolving or disintegrating? Then it will most likely zip right on past your absorption areas In your intestines while still a solid little pill. If it doesn’t "break down" in the water, then break it or bite it Before swallowing. Side Note:----My Doc isn’t a ‘Nutritionist’ But he came into Bariatric Practice with a major interest in all things "gut related." He had been a vascular surgeon who had a run in with colon cancer. Went on to follow up med school with specialist training as a gastroenterologist, And is "All About" some intestines. Sort of a Man with a Mission. I love that about him. Sort of the "Born Again Guts Guy!" When my intestines burst further down the pipe (Not due to the surgery, but rather my systems response to waking from the anesthesia) He was like the shoe-makers elves putting me back together. Now with the Vitamins? My solution is often just to chew up the Dam things Whether they were ‘designed’ to be or not. Sure, it tastes like chewing up a piece of chalk, but I don’t take for the taste.  A swig of water later, and even the worst tasting "Urinal-Cake" of a Vitamin is just a memory. All this to say- Take your Frickin’ Vitamins, and most importantly-- Make sure you are absorbing them! Drop one in some water to check yours out. No one gets points for the number of intake pills down the crapper! Best Wishes- Dx I started with a chart I found on the net...I checked it at my library and it 'jives with' the nutrition text- "Vitamins in Foods: Analysis, Bioavailability, and Stability" By George F. M. Ball.  So I used it as my 'model.'     I did some work on illustrator and ended up with this-- I think it's a little easier to follow,  I combined the available info about the RNY by-pass with the "absorption-chart" and it accounts for the RNY "Editing" of most of the Duodenum. One correction I have not gone back to make yet is that the "Common Limb" area should be labeled as Duodenum as well.  Blue dots on that part. Best Wishes- Dx

Hi Herb,  I take Optisource as well. My Doc told me to take one, four times a day with food. I think with the food it stays in the pouch longer, so it is absorbed better. I also take a sublingual B-12 twice a day and have just added extra biotin. When I was still taking blood pressure meds he had me to split them, but it was because of the size.  pan head

Can't help you on the taking of the pills....yet.  But did want to comment on your fiber choice tablets, they're better than propane in the winter for my furnace.  My wife always walks by and comments, "something die in the basement?"  LOL

If she thinks that now, just wait till after surgery. Mine are far worse than they ever were before surgery.  pan head