Opening Pentasa Capsules?

[gatheryerosebuds]

Hello!

I started the drug Pentasa a couple of weeks ago after my GI diagnosed me with Crohn's disease. I take two capsules three times per day -- a total of six pills daily. I am not always able to swallow the pills with water; I can easily swallow the pills with a tablespoon of applesauce. The trouble is that I will be studying abroad in Palestine in about five months and cannot carry applesauce with me. It would be too inconvenient.

However, according to the directions, I am allowed to open a Pentasa capsule and take its contents with a bit of yogurt or applesauce. But my first question is, would the drug be as effective if I were to take it this way versus swallowing the pill whole? And second, if I do open the capsule, may I take the contents of one of the capsules with just water? Or is there a reason why they suggest it be taken with applesauce or yogurt?

Thank you!

 

[ronroush7]

I would.contact your pharmacy

 

[Malice67]

I agree with Ron, check with doctor or pharmacist first. But the full FDA drug info says specifically with apple sauce or yogurt so it should be ok... I think it is because it coats the pill enough to survive the acid in the stomach... see below for more

Note - one thing that really matters is the location of the Crohn's. Pentasa's capsule helps the medicine survive the acid of the stomach and reach the intestine.

( from the following source: http://www.medicinenet.com/crohns_disease/page8.htm
... for most patients with Crohn's disease involving both the ileum (distal small intestine) and colon, 5-ASA must be taken orally.... If pure 5-ASA is taken orally, however, most of the 5-ASA would be absorbed in the stomach and the upper small intestine, and very little 5-ASA would reach the ileum and colon. To be effective as an oral agent in treating Crohn's disease, 5-ASA has to be modified chemically to escape absorption by the stomach and the upper intestines. .... Pentasa is a capsule consisting of small spheres containing 5-ASA. Pentasa is sulfa-free. As the capsule travels down the intestines, the 5-ASA inside the spheres is released slowly into the intestine. Unlike Asacol, the active drug 5-ASA in Pentasa is released into the small intestine as well as the colon. Therefore, Pentasa can be effective in treating inflammation in the small intestine and is currently the most commonly used 5-ASA compound for treating mild to moderate Crohn's disease in the small intestine.)


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Here is another idea from http://www.news-medical.net/drugs/Pentasa-Tablets.aspx:

How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole without chewing or crushing. You can also place the tablets in 50mL of cold water, stir rapidly and drink immediately.
Do not cut, crush or chew the tablets.
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hope this is helpful

 

[valleysangel92]

Hello,

I'm in the Uk, and we are always told NOT to break the pentasa pills, as they have a special coating which makes them dissolve in the right place in the gut. You can, however, disperse the capsules in a glass of water, or, if you prefer, you can ask your doctor to prescribe you pentasa granules instead. The granules will work in exactly the same way as the pills but will be much easier to swallow.

 

[Cross-stitch gal]

I've been taking pentasa for a few years. When I first started taking this I had a horrible time trying to get it down and it took me awhile for my throat to get used to it. Is there something slippery that you can eat or drink and take this at the same time? This can help you while your getting used to taking the med.

Also, I totally agree with the others. Your pharmacist or doctor might have some other tricks or ideas as far as getting this blue thing down. Please keep us updated on how you're doing.

 

[Pug Gamer]

I take a variety of different shape and sized pills daily and i must say i used to have 4 big capsules daily that i could take but i had problems alot so i would have them with honey. Just a teaspoon full of honey then that pill and itd go down together easily. I admit once i looked like a mental person one day bringing out my spoon and honey and a couple of big pills in the car lol. Gotta do it tho..