Recently, I've noticed I am passing a whole pill once a day. I take many meds. My pharmacist told me to retrieve the pill and compare it to the others I take. I "gloved up" and did so. Found the culprit and was told by the same pharmacist that this pill was time released BUT "Not to worry!" Even if the pill looked like it was passing whole, I was still getting the medication! Why am I having trouble believing her. I then asked if the smaller version of the same medication (I'd need to take two a day) was also time released. She said, "Yes." Tomorrow I'll find out if there is another medication I can take instead of the one I'm on which is NOT time released. I remember when the same thing happened when I took Asacol (capsule). I was also told I was still getting the medication. Well, too bad it did nothing for my ulcerative colitis! I hate to be throwing money literally down the toilet! Anyone have or had a similar experience?
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How terribly frustrating! I've had something similar happen with vitamins, though it was when I had my ileostomy. I noticed partially dissolved pills when in the bag, and once I saw the vitamin pill pass through the stoma whole; only the coating had dissolved. This happened while I was changing the bag so you can imagine my amazement to see the whole thing squeeze out. *LOL* By the size, I figured out these were the B12 supplements my dietician had advised me to take. They were not supposed to be time released, but I wasn't taking chances so I switched brands with seemingly better luck.
If you don't make progress with the pharmacy, perhaps you can talk to your doctor about recommending an alternative.
If you don't make progress with the pharmacy, perhaps you can talk to your doctor about recommending an alternative.
Well, it all depends on what exactly the pill is and how it is released. For many drugs that are time release, there is also a single dose form that you'd take 2-4 times a day. However, the doctor would need to change the order, since the pharmacist can't do that. Another plus to taking the single dose form, is that they are often available in generic form, when the sustained release forms are often brand name only.
I would definitely talk to the doctor about it and not rely on what this pharmacist tells you. Sometimes, they are just looking at what the computer screen is telling them, not your specific circumstances. More important than the pill in the toilet is are you getting the response that is expected? If so, I guess you are getting what you need. But, maybe if you were fully dissolving the pill, you could get by on a lower dose!
Reminds me of when the pharmacist warned me about a drug interaction between my husband's glipizide for diabetes and propanolol for migraine prevention, and he should see about a different migraine pill. His doctor said that the dose was too small to make any difference. So, he HAD considered the interaction. The checks and balances at the pharmacy are great because they catch things sometimes, but your doctor really is the boss...
Jan
I would definitely talk to the doctor about it and not rely on what this pharmacist tells you. Sometimes, they are just looking at what the computer screen is telling them, not your specific circumstances. More important than the pill in the toilet is are you getting the response that is expected? If so, I guess you are getting what you need. But, maybe if you were fully dissolving the pill, you could get by on a lower dose!
Reminds me of when the pharmacist warned me about a drug interaction between my husband's glipizide for diabetes and propanolol for migraine prevention, and he should see about a different migraine pill. His doctor said that the dose was too small to make any difference. So, he HAD considered the interaction. The checks and balances at the pharmacy are great because they catch things sometimes, but your doctor really is the boss...
Jan
Some medications are specifically designed for the capsule to remain in tact but the medication is slowly released through the outer coating as it transits your system. Bear in mind that these are capsules only…if the med. is a tablet type then it should be dissolved before it exits your body.
I have had that same problem. I have low potssaium and when I told the doctor that the pill ends up in the toilet, they gave me a similar drug in powder form that disolves in water or what ever you drink. I am on "Effer-K 20 mEq
So ask if they make your prescription in powder form. You have nothing to lose.
Rocket
So ask if they make your prescription in powder form. You have nothing to lose.
Rocket
Since my IAPA surgery I get frequent kidney stones. The Dr. recently prescribed potassium Citrate to try to dissolve them before they get hard. The pills come out looking just like they went. Fortunately the Dr. warned me of that. The pills are a waxy substrate. The medicine is is released in the intestine and the substrate comes out looking like they went.
I take a drug in capsule form, before I had surgery it was changed to tablet form - and came out looking the same as it went in - both time release - the outer coating should have dissolved, when I discussed this with the pharmacist he said bowel needs to be a particular pH to dissolve the casing, and mine obviously wasn't. I e-mailed the pharmaceutical company to try to find more information - but never got a reply! I didn't have any problems with the capsules so take most things in capsule form
Well, the drug in question is in timed release tablet form. And, it is generic. Both the pharmacist and the physician who prescribed it said, "You are just passing the shell of the tablet." You are still getting the medication. Hard for me to believe! I have so little trust, I guess!!!!
What happened to the "edit" button???
The edit feature is still there. It is the pencil eraser icon in the lower right.
Jan
Jan