On the occasion I get a bad headache I sometimes chop up the pills (paracetamol) before taking them so they dissolve quicker in my stomach to be absorbed into my blood faster thus providing faster pain relief than swallowing them whole.
Is there any danger in doing this?
2007-10-12 09:49:11 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
I crush medications for my patients all the time. Most medications are ok to do this with, unless they are enteric coated. The coating ensures that the pills dissolve in the intestines (where it is actually absorbed) instead of the stomach. Paracetamol is fine to crush up. No harm done.
2007-10-12 11:02:42 · answer #1 · answered by 1sleepymama 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If theyre the shiny kind then they will have a coating on them to keep them from dissolving until they get into your stomach (they are absorbed faster from your stomach than in your throat etc) If you grind them up they will start dissolving way before they get into your stomach and will not be as effective as quickly. They could also irritate your throat if they are chopped up.
2007-10-12 09:53:48 · answer #2 · answered by jeanimus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Learned at medicine course always swallow whole. Easy way to do it is sit tablet on the middle of the tongue and drink normally without tipping your head back, drink at least a third of a tumbler of water so that it goes right down to your stomach.If the tablet is broken before it goes down it can cause heartburn or won't work properly as half of it is stuck in your gullet.
2007-10-12 10:05:22 · answer #3 · answered by sanny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would think that would be fine as long as you dont take anymore than stated on the box, but never empty out capsules as they are in a slow release cover for a good reason. Or why not just buy soluble paracetamol.
2007-10-12 09:59:03 · answer #4 · answered by mistickle17 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No don't do this, it can stop the pills from being effective. It probably isn't so bad with paracetamol but other drugs become very dangerous if you don't take them as directed. I read that an OAP died after opening the capsules and taking the powder rather then swallowing them whole.
2007-10-12 10:01:42 · answer #5 · answered by Johnny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a problem for paracetamol, but the difference in time to pain relief is less than the time it takes to grind them, so I don't quite understand why you'd bother.
2007-10-12 10:11:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is. Painkillers are painkillers. All you are doing is crushing it into a simpler substance. Your not making it any different unless you let is dissolve. I am guessing you are crushing it to make it go down easier.
2007-10-12 11:52:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
When i was a kid my parents grinded up the tablets and mixed them up with jam coz i couldnt swallow the tablet,didnt do me any harm! It was only now and again when i was ill they did this by the way lol.
2007-10-12 09:55:10 · answer #8 · answered by babscabs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you cut your finger with the knife.
It makes no difference the pills are dissolved in your stomach, just stick the dosage on the box and it's fine.
2007-10-12 09:54:38 · answer #9 · answered by dim.bugger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please ask your Pharmacist. Some Rx. are time release. You may cause some harm to yourself. I had a friend who thought the same as yourself and found out from Dr. it was a No! No!
2007-10-12 10:04:16 · answer #10 · answered by gzlakewood@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋