Think Twice Before Cutting a Pill in Half

You may want to cut the pill in half – maybe because you need a smaller dose, you’re trying to save on prescription costs, or you find it hard to swallow large pills. Split tablets can be safe and effective, but there are a number of guidelines to make sure you get an effective dose with each split tablet. As Cleveland Clinic pharmacist Alison Miller said , “Sharing a pill can be dangerous.”

The risks of cutting a pill incorrectly include taking the wrong dosage or changing the pill’s mechanism of action , such as going from extended release (where the drug is slowly released into your body over a period of time) to one where it enters the body. released everything at once.

Discuss splitting the tablet with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Some tablets are FDA approved for splitting . Drug manufacturers’ recommendations may change, so it’s important to discuss your tablet splitting plan with your doctor or pharmacist first. You can also find recommendations on the package leaflet that comes with your medicine.

To cut a pill without scattering half of it around the room, try one of these pill dividers:

• Basic option: Ezy Dose
• The one with stainless steel blades that can be used like a pill: Equadose
• One that can split or crush tablets and comes with a drinking cup: GloDeals

A notch (usually) means that the tablet can be split.

As GoodRx points out , if there’s a notch in the center of the pill, it’s a sign that it’s meant to be split in half. (There are exceptions, so double check the instructions or ask your pharmacist to confirm.) On the other hand, not having a notched line doesn’t necessarily mean it should n’t. If the tablet has a notched line and can be split in half, you should cut it along that line.

Capsules , which usually contain liquids or tiny globules, should never be split as there is no good way to ensure an accurate dose. The same is true for tiny or asymmetrical tablets as there is no good way to split them equally.

Split only one tablet at a time

It can be tempting to just go ahead and split a whole pack of pills at once to save yourself some hassle on the road. However, as the FDA warns , tablets should be split one at a time, and only during use, as split tablets can be affected by heat or humidity, such as in a bathroom. Cut only one tablet at a time, just before you need to take it, and be sure to use both halves before splitting the next tablet.

Do not split extended release tablets

Extended release tablets are designed to release the active ingredient over a period of time so that the effect of the drug is stepwise. This is different from instant release formulations where the entire amount of the active ingredient in the tablet is released at once. Depending on your specific needs, your doctor may prescribe one against the other. However, splitting the extended release tablet affects this mechanism , which can result in the release of the entire drug at once.

How to safely split a pill

If you plan to split a tablet, a number of safety precautions must be followed . For starters, it’s helpful to buy a pill cutter, which will help you separate them more effectively than with a knife, which can make a pill fly around the room. You should also wash your hands beforehand and clean your pill cutter between uses, especially if you are cutting more than one type of pill.