Taking Omeprazole Capsules?

Question

I have trouble swallowing capsules, so I was looking around the internet and found some sites that said the capsules can be opened and mixed in with apple sauce or yoghurt.

I bought some yoghurt, but does it matter if it's the stuff with live bacteria inside?

Answer 1

Astra Zenica spent many years designing the caspule so that it dissolved at exactly the right place in the gut for maximal effect. If you split the capsule, it will never be so effective. Difficulty swallowing tablets is psychological, you will swallow much larger lumps of food every day !

Answer 2

I think you will find the coatings on Omeprazole capsules are gastro resistant to prevent them dissolving before they reach the stomach, removing the powder will defeat this, ask your doc or the chemist for advice on this, they will know if there is an alternative.

Answer 3

Capsules can have lots of functions, apart from just slow release.  When it comes to taking medicines, you should take proper professional advice or make sure that you are acting on advice from a proper professional source (which I am not).

If you are confident that you can use yoghurt, I don't see how the live bacteria could matter.

Answer 4

Prescription omeprazole is used alone or with other medications to treat ulcers (sores in the lining of the stomach or small intestine), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and injury of the esophagus (tube that connects the mouth and stomach), and erosive esophagitis (swelling and wearing away of the lining of the esophagus). Omeprazole delayed-release capsules are also used to treat conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid. Omeprazole delayed-release capsules are also used in combination with other medications to eliminate H. pylori (a bacteria that causes ulcers) and possibly prevent new ulcers from developing in patients who have or have had ulcers of the small intestine. Omeprazole powder for suspension (to be mixed with water) is also used to prevent bleeding from the esophagus, stomach, or the top of the small intestine in people who have life-threatening illnesses. Nonprescription omeprazole is used to treat frequent heartburn (heartburn that occurs at least 2 days a week). Omeprazole is in a class of medications called proton-pump inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach.

Omeprazole is available as tablets and capsules (containing omeprazole or omeprazole magnesium) in strengths of 10 mg, 20 mg, and in some markets 40 mg; and as a powder (omeprazole sodium) for intravenous injection. Most oral omeprazole preparations are enteric-coated, due to the rapid degradation of the drug in the acidic conditions of the stomach. This is most commonly achieved by formulating enteric-coated granules within capsules, enteric-coated tablets, and the multiple-unit pellet system.

Answer 5

Inside the capsules there are enteric coated granules. You can not chew them but you can open and put granules in an acidic liquid like apple juice and drink. If you don't want to put it in apple juice I would use the apple sauce rather than the yogurt. Sometimes omeprazole can alter your taste and decrease your appetite but more than likely it's the acid reflux decreasing your appetite.

Answer 6

Try swallowing them with a glass of cold milk--big gulps-not little sips!

Answer 7

no u cannot open capsules, they are designed to not break down in the stomach but past it in the intestine, if u cant swallow tablets ask yr doc for a soluble version.