A customer recently told us that they were buying DRcaps® delayed-release capsules for medication used for SIBO. This raises an important question: can SIBO medication simply be transferred into a delayed-release capsule?
What is SIBO?
SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. It occurs when excess bacteria grow in the small intestine. Symptoms can include diarrhoea, bloating and other digestive discomfort. NHS hospital guidance notes that antibiotics are commonly used as part of SIBO treatment.
Why might someone look for a delayed-release capsule?
Standard capsules and delayed-release capsules are designed differently. DRcaps® are HPMC delayed-release capsules. The capsule manufacturer Lonza describes DRcaps® as designed to help protect dietary-supplement ingredients, including probiotics, from stomach acidity and moisture.
This is why people researching digestive health sometimes look for terms such as delayed-release capsules, acid-resistant capsules or capsules that open later in the digestive process.
Can you put SIBO medication into DRcaps®?
Do not change a prescribed medicine’s dosage form without first checking with a pharmacist or prescribing clinician.
If a medicine has been supplied as a particular tablet or capsule, opening, crushing, dividing or re-encapsulating it may change how the medicine is released or absorbed. A delayed-release empty capsule should therefore not be assumed to be a better delivery method for a SIBO medicine.
If your pharmacist or clinician confirms that re-encapsulation is appropriate for your particular medicine, you can then consider the required capsule type and size.
DRcaps® are delayed release — not a SIBO treatment
DRcaps® are a delivery format. They do not diagnose, prevent or treat SIBO. Their delayed-release properties should not be interpreted as evidence that they improve the effectiveness of SIBO medication.
Choosing the correct DRcaps® size
DRcaps® are available in several sizes. The correct size depends on the physical volume and density of the material being filled, not simply its stated milligram weight.
See our Capsule Size Calculator before ordering. For customers who require a large delayed-release capsule, see our Size 000 DRcaps® Clear Capsules.
Frequently asked questions
What does SIBO stand for?
SIBO means Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth — an excessive growth of bacteria in the small intestine.
Are DRcaps® a treatment for SIBO?
No. DRcaps® are empty delayed-release HPMC capsules. They are not a treatment for SIBO.
Can I transfer my prescribed SIBO medicine into an empty DRcaps® capsule?
Only do so if your pharmacist or prescribing clinician confirms that changing the medicine’s original dosage form is appropriate. Re-encapsulation can potentially change how a medicine is released or absorbed.
Are DRcaps® the same as pharmaceutical enteric-coated medicines?
No. DRcaps® should be described as delayed-release HPMC capsules and should not automatically be treated as equivalent to a pharmaceutical enteric-coated dosage form.
Medical information: This article is for general information about empty capsule formats and is not medical advice. Always follow the directions supplied with your medicine and ask a pharmacist or prescribing clinician before changing how a medicine is taken.
