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Swallowing Entocort with apple sauce

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/13/2011 8:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed with Crohn's last Thursday (although looking back, I already had a flare-up in 2009 which resolved spontaneously after two weeks). My doctor wanted to start treatment straight away and put me on Entocort.

The problem is: I've never been able to swallow capsules. This is not just psychological, since my tonsils are naturally enlarged and make it difficult for me to swallow big chunks of food, never mind a capsule.

I've found a website by the New Zealand government (http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/e/Entocortcap.htm) that says "The capsules should be swallowed whole with water. For patients with difficulty swallowing, the capsules may be opened and the contents swallowed after mixing with a tablespoon of apple sauce. It is important that the contents of the capsules are not crushed or chewed."

How reliable is this? Have you tried this method yourselves? Is there a big loss of effect?

Thank you in advance.
Posted 11/13/2011 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Although it says not to open the capsule since it is made to be released at the terminal ileum and beyond, it's actually the granules inside that are enteric coated. I haven't done it myself but have read that carefully mixing the granules in apple sauce (or fruit puree) is ok, but you still shouldn't chew the mixture.
Good luck.
Posted 11/13/2011 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi welcome to HW.

Please confirm with your pharmacist or doctor about opening the capsule.

about swallowing whole: unless you are on liquids, the food you swallow is still bigger than the entocort capsule.
Try to relax your throat and drink down the pill. If it gets stuck in you esophagus, don't panic, the muscles contracting and more water will get it down.

Sorry to hear you've been diagnosed with CD, but since you'll now be on meds, sometime soon, swallowing pills will be a piece of cake, just not as tasty. ;-)

Good luck!
Posted 11/13/2011 3:38 PM (GMT 0)

Roni said...
Hi welcome to HW.

Please confirm with your pharmacist or doctor about opening the capsule.

about swallowing whole: unless you are on liquids, the food you swallow is still bigger than the entocort capsule.
Try to relax your throat and drink down the pill. If it gets stuck in you esophagus, don't panic, the muscles contracting and more water will get it down.


Hi Roni, thanks for your welcome.

I'm actually relaxed when trying to take the capsule. No fear of choking or anything. But my throat will simply stop the capsule as soon as I try to swallow it. I've spent the last three days practising with bits of candy and carrot, but even those don't want to go down unless I've chewed them thoroughly!
Posted 11/14/2011 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
I've read the mixed in a "tablespoon of applesauce" for use w/other medications in similar capsule form (enteric coated "beads" in the capsules). The key being the applesauce allows you to swallow the beads w/o chewing.
Posted 11/14/2011 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
In the past I use to do this with some meds as a child (theodore for asthma) however being that I have had this DD since I was 8 I have learned how to get by even when I had severe swelling due to mono last year. I would def ask your pharmacist and GI about this I know certain capsules are NOT to be opened since the capsule is made to release the meds when they get to a specific region in the body.
Posted 11/14/2011 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Fill your glass full of water...put glass on table or counter with a straw in it...put pill in mouth and drink from straw while holding glass or leaving on counter...you will automatically swallow the pill with the water. I use this trick for myself when I have to swallow more then one pill and my daughter who cannot swallow pills without choking.
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