Question:
Anyone have the test for whether pills dissolve quickly?

I know I have seen it mentioned here before, and I even tried a library search and could not readily find it. I have these calcium capsules that I take. I put one in a glass of water and waited for the capsule to dissolve. I thought that was the correct test and 10 minutes is what we look for. Well, 40 minutes later, the pill was wrinkly but not dissolved at all. Am I doing the test wrong?    — Cindy R. (posted on October 29, 2002)

October 29, 2002
I heard that if you drop it in white vinegar that'll tell you. Best wishes, Paula
   — Paula A.

October 29, 2002
Never heard it about capsules but about calcium tablets five minutes in water
   — Delores S.

October 29, 2002
Hi You are doing the test right as far as I know thats what I was told to do too. It should disolve with in 5-10 minutes. If not then you should probably look for a different pill. Because it might not be getting disolved in to your system as it should be. I would try just a plain tablet or a liquid type product not a gel tablet, capsule or anything. Because it has a coating on it that takes it more time to disolve. Hope this helps a little.
   — Starla W.

October 29, 2002
I hear a lot of commecials saying tablets or pills are found in sewers - not absorbed by the body. Does anyone know the truth. I put all the pills-tablets-gelcaps in water and not too pleased. So now I wonder if the calcium powder in water is better - and liquid or chewable vitamin and mineral ar better. We have very little or no acid after rny. My "nutrition people roll their eyes and don't really know. Hopefully we can get GOOD information instead of opinions.
   — charlene M.

October 29, 2002
Hydrocloric acid is the closest thing to true stomache acid. You can probably find this in a Home Depot or Lowe's. The reason the pill did not desolve is because water does not have the same amount of acid as your stomache. Many Blessings, Angie
   — Angela B.

October 29, 2002
Actually the test you did was correct (in water). I was told it should dissolve within 5 minutes. We have very little acid in the pouch. It's produced in the lower portion of the transected stomach and doesn't blend with the pouch contents until further down the intestinal tract. That's where the malabsorption comes in. The capsules I get from vitalady.com dissolve quickly. Rather than through out your current capsules you can always open them and mix the powder with water.
   — LLinderman

October 29, 2002
If you're RNY, you have little to no acid in your pouch at all. The best test I've come up with is "spit water". Crude, but all we have to dissolve a pill is saliva, really. I've dissolved them in my mouth, which is now what I would recommend! LOL!. Or in a small glass, rinse out your mouth a few times and dissolve it in there. A regular capsule might take HOURS in water alone, but add some saliva and it's history. I dissolved my calcium "shell" in my mouth (someone with a brain woulda emptied it first), and it was gone in about 4 minutes.
   — vitalady

October 30, 2002
hiya. i heard to test the pills for 20 minutes in water. since we don't produce stomach acid (or very little) it's better to test in water. i take Citrical with vitamin D and it dissolves within a few minutes (that's how i take it since it's such a big pill) and i take chewable adult centrum complete. food/pills/whatever only stays in our pouches for about 20 minutes so if it's not dissolved/broken down by then, whoosh, it passes straight through and does us no good! good luck kate open rny 6-14-01 pre op: 268lbs goal: 135lbs current: 126lbs
   — jkb

October 30, 2002
Hi. I've never tried the dissolving test but I have heard that we don't absorb much of any pill. I've been taking the Isotonix vitamins and calcium and they are wonderful! My 6 month labs were right on target too!
   — Leah H.

October 31, 2002
I'm with you 110% Leah!! I've been taking "Isotonix" brand vitamins for the past 6 years and LOVE them!! Love them soooo much I have become a distributor. "Isotonix" vitamins are predigested and absorption begins IMMEDIATELY. You can expect over 90% absorption within 5 minutes!! No stomach acids required for "Isotonix". Just drink and absorb, it's that simple. You can check out my website at: pattischmoldt.unfranchise.com
   — Patti S.

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