Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Pill Splitting Advice
Prescription medication is expensive, so many patients split their pills to save money. Is this a good idea? Here’s advice from Johns Hopkins.
Pill splitting is a good way to save on the cost of prescription medication, since a 200-mg dose typically costs the same as a 100-mg dose of a particular drug.
But it is essential to ask your doctor and pharmacist whether your medication can be split safely, because it is very easy to split pills unevenly. For people with certain medical conditions, like epilepsy and some heart problems, an inadequate dose can be dangerous. Correct dosage is also essential for hormone medications. Other medication that shouldn't be split:
- Extended-release pills that deliver medication over time
- Combination tablets that contain more than one medication
- Pills coated to protect the stomach from irritation
- Pills that crumble easily or are awkwardly shaped
- Pills that are difficult to swallow because of bitter taste
- Powder or gel capsules
That said, other medications can be split, like sildenafil (Viagra), certain blood pressure medications, many antidepressants, and most statins. Pills that are scored to make cutting easier indicate approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to split the tablets.
Don't split pills with your hands or a knife -- this could lead to inaccurate doses. Buy a pill splitter at your local drugstore. Most cost $5-10; ask your pharmacist for a demonstration.
Posted in Healthy Living on October 28, 2009
Reviewed January 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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