RxCrush does not have pharmacists on staff and we do not certify this information as authoritative. Please consult your pharmacist for their guidance.
We have experimented to find solutions for crushing gel capsuled medications to see if RxCrush can improve the process for delivering medications in gel capsules into enteral feeding systems and to food. Here is what we've found to be helpful.
Review steps for using Rx Crush and how to attach syringes to pill pouches. Here is a video and pictures showing recommended steps. https://www.rxcrush.com/how-it-works.
To dissolve medications from a gel cap here are suggested steps. Before putting gel cap contents into an Rx Crush Pill pouch, lance the gel cap or cut off the tip of the gel capsule and empty the medication into an Rx Crush pill pouch. After the pouch is sealed and a syringe is attached with diluent loaded into the syringe, inject solution into the Rx Crush pill pouch and shake vigorously to dissolve the medication. Extract the dissolve medication by withdrawing the solution into the syringe and deliver to the enteral feeding system or to food. The process may need to be repeated several times to dissolve all the medication.
Medication in gel caps also comes in pelletized form that is meant to make the medication release over time rather than immediately. Crushing the pelletized medication before introducing into enteral feeding systems alters the intentions of the drug's dose. Consult with the pharmacy before determining to crush any medication with time-release coating.
Gel caps can be dissolved without emptying the gel cap using warm water but it does take a while to dissolve the gel cap.