SleepyCatten (Barely Surviving Arc)Mar 6

Hey folks  

Bit of an odd practical biochemistry question in relation to the absorption speed of any meds.

Hypothetically-speaking, is it possible to turn an instant release (IR) med into an extended-release¹ (ER) version via non-commercial means?

Examples of IR meds might include:

  • A capsule (designed to dissolve in the stomach) containing an easily-absorbed powder.
  • A tablet without any coating and a structure that dissolves very easily.

Examples of ER meds we've seen include:

  • Capsules containing tiny pellets, coated with something to slow absorption.
  • Tablets with a coating designed to slow absorption.

Could you, for example:

  • Encase the capsule in a larger, acid-resistant / enteric capsule?
    • e.g., like the ones described here
  • Coat the tablet in some kind of food-safe coating?

Genuinely asking here, as we neither have the spoons nor time to go down an AuDHD rabbit hole investigating this 😅

#biochemistry #AskFedi #GenuinelyAsking #NoReplyGuysPlease

¹ aka prolonged, sustained, modified, or controlled release

Show threadKevin Karhan Mar 6

@SleepyCatten Sadly it's not that easy!

  • In fact you need some really professional gear if you want a slow, prolonged release and not merely a delayed release post-stomach, because that requires layering with specific carrier media and really is challenging.
    • Even for material scientists and pharmacologists unless they know exactly the kind of medication they have to target and where it should be released, it's really hard for anything gastrointernally consumed.

The most efficient and slow release I know is transdermal, tho that does come with issues of it's own.

  • I mean, #Gynokadin and other #Estrogen gels are alcohol-soluble and gel'd with glycerin to enshure proper application.
    • And just like with transdermal Fentanyl patches, unless the applicant is also the patient, it's basically necessary to use latex or nitrile gloves.
Show threadSleepyCatten (Barely Surviving Arc)Mar 6

@kkarhan That was kinda our feeling on the matter from the limited amount of info we absorbed before catching ourselves falling into a deeper AuDHD into rabbit hole, but we thought it best to ask.

We're mostly asking where it's possible to acquire IR versions of meds but not the ER/PR/SR/CR versions.

We suppose delayed-release (DR) would still be helpful though where the meds are more sensitive to stomach acid, but we'd imagine any further delay would require some kind of complex matryoshka encapsulation or coating 😅

Show threadKevin Karhan 

@SleepyCatten anything but direct release requires either chemical encapsulation and/or layering into slowly dissolving material.

  • If it was as easy as advertised then the Oxycontin - co-created #OpioidCrisis would not have grown that much and that quickly.

I mean, I know a [fmr.] material scientist who worked on encapsulation techniques but getting a slow release effectively and reproduceably done is a challenge in and of itself, as also absorbtion rate and dissolvement rate rapidly fluctuates between individuals and for it to work it needs to be rather consistent.

  • Kinda like how any fizzy tablet is dissolving differently fast whether one has water, isotonic salt solution and whether the PH is 1 or 15.
Mar 6 at 11:37pmWeb