Comment
Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Dear Savvy Senior: Is pill splitting safe? I have several friends who split their prescription pills to save money. — Split Decision Dear Decision, Splitting your pills — literally cutting them in half — is a simple way to save money on your prescription drugs, but be sure you talk to your doctor first, because not all pills can be split. Here’s what you should know: Savings and safety The reason pill splitting is such a cost cutter is because of a quirk in the way drugs are manufactured and priced. A pill that’s twice as strong as another may not be twice the price. In fact, it’s usually about the same price. So, buying a double-strength dose and cutting it in half may allow you to get two months worth of medicine for the price of one. But is it safe? As long as your doctor agrees that splitting your pills is OK for you, you learn how to do it properly, and you split only pills that can be split, there’s really no danger. What to do If you’re interested in pill splitting, the first step is to talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out if any of the medicines you use can be safely split. It’s also important to find out whether splitting them will save you enough money to justify the hassle. The pills that are easiest to split are those with a score down the middle. However, not every pill that’s scored is meant to be split. Pills that are most commonly split include: o Cholesterol lowering drugs, like Crestor, Lipitor and Pravachol o Antidepressants, like Celexa, Paxil and Zoloft o High blood pressure medicines like, Monopril, Prinivil, Univasc, Zestril, Avapro and Cozaar. o Erectile dysfunction pills, like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra Having the right equipment helps, too. Don’t use a knife to cut your pills in half. It can cause you to split them unevenly resulting in two pieces with very different dosages, which can be dangerous. Purchase a proper pill cutter. They only cost around $5 to $10 and are available
Add Comment