Question:
Can we take apart a calcium capsule, add the powder to water and drink?

I am taking the Cal-Mag-D Calcium Citrate Supplement. I am afraid to swallow the vegetable capsule whole. So, I took the capsule apart and dumped it into some water with a little Crystal Lite to flavor. The powder is all sort of floating on the top, but it doesn't taste bad. Does doing this "ruin" the calcium or Vit D? I am finding getting all 1500 mgs of calcium in is a tricky situation for me. Thank you! — Kim B (posted on January 20, 2003)

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January 20, 2003
HI Kim :). I take the same supplements and I also open them to take them. My Dr. confirmed that those capsules are WAY too big to swallow whole for at least another 3 months (I'm 3 weeks post-op). I tried putting them in liquid, but it felt like I was trying to swallow chunks of concrete. I couldn't deal with it. Now I just open them and put them into a tablespoon of sugar free pudding. It has minimal calories, fat, and carbs, and I can just let it slip down the back of my throat without even tasting it. Yes, it's ok to open them and mix them with other things. If we were able to take them whole, the "shells" would just dissolve inside of us, releasing the contents anyways. So, we're just helping the process along :). GOOD LUCK!!! SuzAnne
— SuzAnne S.

January 20, 2003
Hi yall! I have been reading ALOT of psts about taking apart capsules and chopping up pills.If you confirm that its ok with your Dr thenI guess he knows best.However, I have been a nurse for 11 years and we were taught NOT to open capsules that are intended to be time released because then you are taking what mounts to be a mega dose of medication which was actually intended to be taken over several hours. Also chopping up enteric coated pills nd destroying that coating can be extremely irritating to the stomach and may over a period of time cause ulcers
— Lisa F.

January 20, 2003
I'd ask a pharmacist. They are trained to know about drugs and such, how they dissolve, whether they can be cut up, opened up and poured into food, etc. I get pills down with yogurt, except for very small ones. Those I can sometimes get down with water, but the bigger ones get stuck.
— garw

January 20, 2003
Hi again :). Lisa, I too am an RN, so here we have the battle of the nurses LOL. Just to set things straight, the capsules are not time-released. They're just calcium, magnesium, and a whole bunch of other goodies inside of a vegetable-gelatin capsule. They WILL dissolve in about a minute in hot water, but for those who want to play it safe and not chance the capsule NOT dissolving and then getting stuck, the alternative is to open them before swallowing. I guess I should have been clearer in my previous answer :). Good luck!!! :) SuzAnne
— SuzAnne S.

January 20, 2003
Do I, um, KNOW these caps? If so, they're just powder put into caps for convneinece. If you ultimately want to swallow them, but are fearful, melt them in your mouth for like 1 minute. They dissolve in SALIVA in about 4 min. I tested in water, 5 hours later it looked like a piece of lasagne! However, I swallow them with no problem. Timed release, see the MD or pharmacist. Powdered caps like these are OK dumped.
— vitalady

January 20, 2003
Hiya :). Michelle, the supplements are the ones they sell at www.bariatricsupplementsystem.com.
— SuzAnne S.

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