2007-06-18 20:14:11 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
It depends on the pill. Most can just be halved, but there are a lot (and more all the time) of fancy delivery systems that allow a drug to be released slowly, and many of these if broken will cause a temporary overdose and/or loss of all-day activity, so it really is important to know what pill you're dealing with.
There are quite a few drugs used to treat hypertension and diabetes that can't be split, and of course MS-Contin and Oxycontin have killed the naive who didn't consider the overdose ramifications adequately.
2007-06-19 06:39:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Simple answer would be cutting the tablet.What tablet is it by the way? However, be careful and be sure that such tablet will not cause any problem if divided and taken in portion. There are kinds of tablets that the percentage of contents of the tablet are not equally distributed. SR Wellbutrin is one of the examples. Cutting the SR tablets in half causes 5% to be changed into regular Wellbutrin and the other 95% remained as SR Wellbutrin. If the tablet contains single ingredient most likely it won't make problem as long as it is properly split. As I know, there are coated tablets that should not be cut otherwise the potency will be changed after taking it in.So to say, be sure to split your tablet only if it is approved by the doctor or indicated in the manufacturer's note. If you do not have a tablet splitter, use a thin and sharp knife or blade.
2007-06-19 01:57:30 · answer #2 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Division my friend. Formula : X / Y = Z where X is tablet (mg), Y is tablet needed (mg) and Z is amount of pills you need to take.
2007-06-18 20:29:38 · answer #3 · answered by Joeyboy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many medications are manufactured with a tiny line/indentation down the middle to facilitate splitting them in half. If your tablet doesn't have this, put it on a cuttting board and cut it down the middle with a very sharp paring knife. You might want to put a piece of plastic wrap under it to catch all small pieces, because they don't always split cleanly.
I have had this problem and this worked for me.
2007-06-18 20:18:55 · answer #4 · answered by Jan N 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure that it's safe to cut the pill in half. Some of them, like Oxycontin, cannot be safely split. A lower dosage might be available, or perhaps a different medication.
2007-06-18 20:51:19 · answer #5 · answered by RJ 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If there is a line in the middle of the tablet, it means that is dividable and you can divide it into tow pieces, if there is not, it means that there is no way for you to divide it, be careful, because if you divide a tablet which can not be divided, it can be really harmful.
2007-06-18 20:26:51 · answer #6 · answered by silver d 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First ask your doctor if 15 is the right dose. Also, you can purchase pill cutters in Kmart and Target and so on. Also, see if the pharmacy will cut it in half for you.
2007-06-18 20:19:06 · answer #7 · answered by Susan N 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can cut tablets in half. If it's something similar to alka seltzer (in appearance) then you can cut it in half.
2007-06-18 20:18:00 · answer #8 · answered by Joe S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you break the tablet into two and have one half.
2007-06-18 20:17:23 · answer #9 · answered by All Aces 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you cut it in half people do it all the time
2007-06-18 20:17:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋