Supplement Tablets Have Started to Crumble & Break - ConsumerLab.com (2024)

FAQs

Why are my pills falling apart? ›

If sold as uncoated tablets and exposed to humidity, the tablets may become soft, crumbly, and fall apart. Examples of such supplements include L-arginine, chondroitin, and mushroom powders. This also occurs with minerals in a chloride or hydrochloride form, such as magnesium hydrochloride.

The term “Binding” describes when the tablet sticks/takes hold of the die or splits during the molding/pressing process. During the process, a film is built on the molding or die area, restraining the ejection of the tablet. If there is excessive binding, the sides of the tablet might become cracked and can crumble.

Capsule drugs are used frequently in life. However, in actual production, the problem of softening of the capsule is often encountered, which is usually happened in spring and summer. The main reason is that the gel cap is not properly stored, which is affected by the temperature or adsorbs moisture in the air.

Factors like heat, moisture and humidity are more likely to affect pills that have been split. And don't try to divide pills into sizes smaller than a half. They are likely to crumble. Check the package insert or medication guide that comes from the pharmacy with your medication.

Cracked tablets have film cracks or splits throughout the tablet batch. Typically, tablet cracking occurs when there are high internal stresses in the coating formulation. To prevent tablet cracking, use lower molecule weight polymers or blends and adjust the plasticizer type and concentration.

Pills that have changed color, have spots or mold growing on them, or are easily crumbled into powder. Pills that are soft and can break apart easily when lightly squeezed should also be discarded.

Why should medicine be stored in a cool, dry place? Moisture, like that found in most bathrooms, can cause some medicines to stop working as intended. For example, when blood glucose strips are exposed to humidity, they can actually give inaccurate readings.

Lisa Mauer, an associate professor of food science, said that crystalline substances -- including vitamin C, some vitamin B forms and other dietary supplements -- are prone to a process called deliquescence, in which humidity causes a water-soluble solid to dissolve.

Factors that may cause malabsorption syndrome include: damage to the intestine from infection, inflammation, trauma (injury), or surgery. prolonged use of antibiotics. other conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease, chronic pancreatitis, or cystic fibrosis.

How do you know if vitamins have gone bad? ›

Though it's not common, vitamins can become moldy or smelly, especially if they're not stored properly. If your vitamins are in this condition, throw them out immediately and get a new bottle. This is a situation where your vitamins can be unsafe to consume, because of whatever contamination is happening with them.

When it comes to these vitamins, our stomach breaks the vitamins down before they get the chance to be absorbed. Vitamins with a shiny, waxy coating make the tablet harder for the body to dissolve, making it harder for the vitamins to be absorbed into the body.

You'll want to place the pill inside the v-shaped holder with the score line directly in the middle. Then quickly press downward on the blade to cut the pill. If you do this too slowly, the pill is more likely to crumble.

Summary. There are many reasons why a pill or capsule may appear undigested. It could be that the capsule has not broken down fully, though the active drug may have been absorbed. Or, you may have diarrhea or another disorder that causes a drug to pass through the intestines too quickly.

Space between tablets:

This helps both the pharmacy and the customer, which explains the empty space between tablets. Empty spaces also help medicine not to get mixed up with each other. This can cause oxidisation, which will inevitably ruin the drugs.

Yes. Many medications, such as cholesterol medications and medications prescribed for depression, can be cut in half. As a general rule, if the tablet has a score mark or groove down the middle, it can be split in half. Be sure to talk to your pharmacist before breaking your pills in half.