Does anyone know if it is okay to do this?I need 4 mg a day.
It's much cheaper to buy 8 mg pills and cut them in half.
Incredibly,my doctor doesn't know if this is allowable.
I've always thought it was okay to cut any pill that's not
time released.
Any light on the subject will be appreciated
Eddie
Hi Eddie! Welcome to the Forums!
Here are the tablets that can be split:
Commonly Asked Questions about
Tablet Splitting
Tablet splitting is when a higher strength tablet is cut in half to give your prescribed dose of medication. For example,
your doctor prescribes Lipitor 10 mg tablets. You could talk to your doctor and pharmacist about getting Lipitor 20 mg
tablets and then cutting them in half to get your 10 mg dose. This allows you to get the same dose by purchasing fewer
tablets. Tablet splitting programs have been successfully used in many healthcare plans across the country.
What are the benefits of tablet splitting?
As you know, the costs of medications
have risen sharply in the past few years.
Tablet splitting may allow you, your health
plan, and your employer to all save money
on your prescription. Often, all strengths of
one medication are similar in price.
Splitting tablets can lower the cost per day
of your medications by 40% to 50%! It also
may make your medicine smaller and
easier to swallow.
Can all my medications be split in half?
No. Some medications are specially
designed so that they may not work
properly if they are split in half, such as
capsules, medications with special coatings, and time-release products. Some tablets can be split even if they do not
have a line to break the tablet in half. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to help you determine if your medications
can be split in half. We have compiled a list of brand and generic medications that could potentially be split for your
information. Medications that are marked with an asterisk (*) may be scored.
How do I split my tablets in half?
There are many different ways to split tablets in half. One way is to purchase a tablet splitter from your local pharmacy
(they usually cost less than $10). These tablet splitters are safe and easy to use. All you need to do is place the tablet in
the proper place and then when the splitter is closed a steel blade cuts the tablet in half. Some tablets are scored and
have a line dividing the dose in half and may be able to be snapped in half using your fingers. Other alternatives may be
available - Ask your pharmacist for more information.
Is it safe to split my medications
in half?
Tablet splitting is generally safe
when done on appropriate
medications. As previously
mentioned, not all medications can
be split. When tablet splitting is
done correctly on appropriate
medications, you will receive your
prescribed dose with no adverse
effects.
BRAND NAME MEDICATIONS THAT MAY BE SPLIT
Accupril* Aceon* Actos Amaryl*
Ambien Atacand Augmentin* Avandia
Avapro Bextra Cefzil Celexa*
Cipro Clarinex Claritin Coreg
Coumadin* Cozaar Depakote Digitek
Dilantin tablets Diovan HCT Endocet* Evista
Glucovance Hyzaar Klor-Con M 20* Lanoxin*
Levaquin Levoxyl* Lipitor Monopril
Neurontin tablets Norvasc Nystatin Paxil*
Plavix Pravachol Premarin Prevacid tablets
Prinivil* Remeron* Risperdal Seroquel
Serzone Singulair Skelaxin* Synthroid*
Topamax Toprol XL* Tricor Ultram*
Univasc* Valtrex* Viagra Vioxx
Zestoretic Zestril* Zithromax Zocor
Zoloft* Zyprexa Zyrtec
GENERIC MEDICATIONS THAT MAY BE SPLIT
Acyclovir tabs* APAP/codeine Albuterol tabs Allopurinol*
Alprazolam* Amitriptyline Amoxicillin tablets* Amoxicillin/clav*
Aspirin Atenolol* Bumetidine Buspirone*
Captopril* Carbidopa/levodopa* Carisoprodol Cephalexin tablets*
Clonazepam* Clonidine* Cyclobenzaprine Diazepam*
Diclofenac Diltiazem tablets* Doxazosin* Doxycyline tablets
Enalapril* Estradiol* Estropipate Famotidine
Fluoxetine tablets* Folic acid* Furosemide* Gemfibrozil*
Glipizide Glyburide* Hydrochlorothiazide* Hydrocodone/APAP tabs
Hydroxyzine tablets Ibuprofen Isosorbide mononitrate* Labetalol
Lisinopril* Lorazepam* Lovastatin Meclizine*
Medroxyprogesterone* Metformin* Methylprednisolone* Metoclopramide*
Metronidazole Minocycline tablets Metoprolol* Nadolol
Naproxen* Oxycodone/APAP Penicillin VK* Potassium Chloride*
Prednisone* Promethazine* Propoxyphene N/APAP Propranolol*
Ranitidine Spironolactone* Temazepam tablets Terazosin
Tetracycline tablets Tramadol Trazodone* Triamterene/HCTZ*
Trimethoprim/SMZ* Verapamil* Warfarin*
it was early in the morning for me. 
