crushing up pills

iammumtoone

UPDATE More advise please


I received the prescription, he has been prescribed modified release tablets judging by the link posted and peoples advice I don't think I should be crushing these.


I will of course check with the pharmacist when I collect but if I can't crush what do I do?


I am not due to see the consultant again, getting an appointment with them takes months they don't even regularly work in my area (come from a hospital miles away) I can see a local GP but I don't think they can/will get involved as they are not allowed to prescribe this.


I am slightly annoyed I did explain he couldn't have tablets and did ask for liquid but was told no I would have to crush the tablets.

Mojisola

iammumtoone wrote: »

I received the prescription, he has been prescribed modified release tablets judging by the link posted and peoples advice I don't think I should be crushing these.

I will of course check with the pharmacist when I collect but if I can't crush what do I do?

I am not due to see the consultant again, getting an appointment with them takes months they don't even regularly work in my area (come from a hospital miles away)

You should be able to contact the consultant's secretary, either by phone or email and ask for advice.

hb2

According to this site - https://www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk/melatonin-sleep-disorders

Malatonin is available in syrup form in the UK, although it does have to be ordered in specially by the pharmacy. I suspect it is also much more expensive than the tablets, which might explain the reluctance to prescribe it.

"What is melatonin available as?
Modified-release tablets (Circadin): 2 mg
Tablets and capsules from 0.5 to 5 mg (this is a ‘special order’ medicine and has to be ordered in advance by your pharmacist)
Liquid medicine: 5 mg per 5 mL (this has to be ordered specially from your pharmacist)"

iammumtoone

FURTHER UPDATE - all resolved


I spoke with the pharmacy, they were super helpful. I can crush them, they explained they will no longer be slow-release but turn into instant action. This means I shouldn't follow the timeline guidelines on the instruction leaflet and they told me what to adjust the timing to.



Now I just have the issue of getting son to take them, although to be fair I would have the same problem with a liquid!


Thanks to everyone for their input. If I have any further problems I will call the number on the appointment letter I received and ask for the secretary (thanks Mojisola I didn't realise you could contact them to get to speak to the consultant I thought it was only if you needed to rearrange a planned appointment)

Torry_Quine

iammumtoone wrote: »

FURTHER UPDATE - all resolved


I spoke with the pharmacy, they were super helpful. I can crush them, they explained they will no longer be slow-release but turn into instant action. This means I shouldn't follow the timeline guidelines on the instruction leaflet and they told me what to adjust the timing to.



Now I just have the issue of getting son to take them, although to be fair I would have the same problem with a liquid!


Thanks to everyone for their input. If I have any further problems I will call the number on the appointment letter I received and ask for the secretary (thanks Mojisola I didn't realise you could contact them to get to speak to the consultant I thought it was only if you needed to rearrange a planned appointment)

Glad it's resolved.

jenniewb

I just thought I'd add in my own tuppence worth here as I am currently taking melatonine and the time released version (not sure if there is another version). I find I need to take occasionally more and increments of 1mg, but as you may already know (same pills?) they come in 2mg format and not 1 mg or 3 mg..etc. I know this as I've asked both my psychiatrist whom requests them, the GP who prescribes them and the pharmacist who orders them in.


For me I just halve them, they seem to split pretty evenly if a little fiddly to do. I don't find they have a faster action if I've taken 1.5 pills or 2.5 pils then if I take 3 or 2 or 1 whole pill, they all seem to hit me after about an hour no faster no matter the format.


Maybe I just have a very acidic stomach, or maybe the time released part isn't as robust as they want us to believe but I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'd also say crushing isn't a problem in terms of taste- I take quite a few pills for various things and the melatonine is the one pill which seems to have no taste, everything else is made to be overly bitter (most likely to prevent an overdose). I hope you get on OK with them anyway.