Only after a pharmacist confirms your specific capsule is safe to open.
Capsules fall into two camps. Plain immediate-release capsules can often be opened and the contents mixed into a spoonful of soft food. But modified-release, extended-release, and enteric-coated capsules are engineered: opening them releases the full dose immediately, or exposes the drug to stomach acid that destroys it. The NHS warns against opening capsules without medical advice because it can stop the medicine working properly. Names ending in XL, XR, SR, MR, LA, or EC are your do-not-open signals. Some shells also shield your throat and stomach from irritating contents.
What to do
Common questions
Can I open my capsules?
Sometimes, but never guess. Many capsules can be opened and the contents sprinkled on soft food like applesauce, but a large group cannot: modified-release, extended-release, and enteric-coated products are designed to release medicine slowly or to survive stomach acid, and opening them dumps the whole dose at once or destroys the drug before it works. The NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service is explicit that not all capsules can be opened and you must check first. Clues on the name like XL, XR, SR, MR, LA, EC, or Retard mean do not open. The capsule shell can also protect your mouth and stomach from an irritating drug, or mask a taste so bad you would not keep it down. The safe routine: ask your pharmacist about your exact product. If it is openable, they can tell you how and what food to mix it with. If it is not, they can usually find a liquid or smaller-tablet version instead.