terrydrives1979 Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 I find it strange that my pdoc said " if you break/cut a seroquel xr tablet with a pill cutter that it then turns into a immediate release tablet ? " He is a pretty sarcastic pdoc so I don't know if he was testing me? Is the above statement true ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Yes, Breaking some XR tablets in half causes them to be absorbed at the rate of an IR tablet. It is roughly correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calypte Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 That's quite possible, yes. For many XR formulations, the extended-release mechanism is in the coating or shell of the tablet, which lets out medication gradually. If you break the shell, you break this extended-release mechanism and expose the inside of the tablet, which dissolves quickly and hence the medication is absorbed at about the same rate as in an IR formulation. I'm not familiar with the Seroquel extended-release mechanism specifically, but it's probably something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrydrives1979 Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 Didn't know that... Thank You Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 I am curious. What do you mean when you said your psychiatrist might be 'testing' you?? That seems sort of odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrydrives1979 Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 I am curious. What do you mean when you said your psychiatrist might be 'testing' you?? That seems sort of odd. Seeing how smart I am since he knows I google my meds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enlightened_plutonian Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 I'd imagine it is true. My box says 'do not chew or split the tablets' or something along those lines. I think Calypte's explanation is quite good. By the way I have never tried splitting the tablets, and have no intention of doing so. So I am only guessing from the things I have read here, and not personal experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 If you need some regular Seroquel maybe your doctor could give you some samples. Instead of breaking an ER in half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larkspur Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 AZ hasn't been providing Seroquel IR samples for quite some time according to my doc. It's scheduled to go off-patent at the end of this month in the US, whereas Seroquel XR stays on-patent until 2015 (so AZ gives lots of samples and has a copay assistance program for XR). Ironically, due to the copay program, Seroquel XR costs me $25 a month versus IR which would cost me $90 a month until that sucker goes generic. I'm sick of having the afternoon sleepies thanks to the XR! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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