Capsules/softgels for the banded

[Poodles 0]

My doctor has recommended that I chew or crush regular pills and to open up capsules, but I was wondering if anyone has tried capsules with the band?

I am wanting to take some Vitamins without taking them out of their "shell". ie: b-complex/milk thistle/vitamin e/evening primrose oil. I know solid pills would have issues, but don't capsules just turn into a jelly like substance?

I know these things come in liquids, and have tried them, but man are they gross!!!

Thanks for the advice...

[losingjusme 12]

hi Poodles,

i take capsules every few days and have no problems. i take them 2 at a time.

[~Jules~ 0]

I take capsules everyday. So far I have not had any problems. I have only had one fill though. It may change as my restriction changes.

[Marimaru 7]

depends on how tight you are and how big the pills are. The only ones I have had to crush are HUGE pills. I can't take the ginormous pills that Vitamins come in, so I have a liquid for that. My birth control and welbutrin pills I take every single morning without issues (and I am TIGHT in the mornings)

[Poodles 0]

I did a little experiment and timed how long it takes a capsule to dissolve in hot Water. It takes about 30 seconds.

So, I figure that if I take the capsules with hot liquid/coffee that it will work. What do you think???

[TruBlueSue 0]

that's what I do!

[Poodles 0]

Last night I tried the capsules with hot tea, and I felt them. Kinda uncomfortable.

Tonight I held the capsule in my mouth, full of hot tea, and swallowed when I felt them get soft. Much better.

My RX meds soften quicker than Vitamins. I thought that was weird.

[yyev 0]

My doc said tabs is ok. Anything bigger than an aspirin should be broken in half. So far I have had no problems however, I don't have a fill yet either.

yyev

[Tamiko 0]

I too tried to take softgel last night and I thought that it would get stuck but I had no problems. My doctor wants me to take Lipic Acid pills and when I tried to take it out of the capsules it was horrible. So know that I know that I won't have a problem with them it's okay know. I don't know if it matters how tight you are or not.

[gadgetlady 4]

I'm have a pretty good restriction and I take a capsule every night (mild sleeping pill) and have absolutely no problems at all. I frequently marvel to my husband that I can't get a piece of cheese down even after I've chewed it (if I'm very tight), but the pill always goes down with no problems at all.

[gonnabethin 10]

i have 1.5cc fill in 4cc band- and I can take capsules without any problems. Hot liquids do help.

[Poodles 0]

Ok, I think I may be brave and try a softgel. What fun experimenting with our bands. Its like Russian Roulette...

[S@ssen@ch 745]

I try not to take tablets unless they're broken into smaller pieces. I was told they needed to be smaller than a pencile eraser.

As for capsules or gel caps, I have taken capsules (even bigger ones like antibiotics). But what I do is let them soften first. Either I hold them in my mouth until I know they have gotten soft or I put them in Water until I know they're soft. Then I drink them down with either room temp Water or hot tea. I would think gel caps would do the same since it's the same substance that holds the medicine in. It's just not a capsule that you can open anymore.

Also, a big helper that I've found with pills of any kind is to use a semi solid to get them down. Put the pill in pudding or applesauce and they slide right down-your throat and through the band. Nurses use this trick with people who have swallowing difficulties and I tried it because after banded I seemed to gag on my broken up pills. Once it had something to bind to, it even seemed more comfortable sliding past the band.