Breakage of the medicine may pose risks to the treatment; understand how to do it safely
Summary
Splitting pills in half using knives or cutters sold in pharmacies may not be safe. The advice is to follow the instructions on the information leaflet and in the pharmacy.
Have you ever used knives or cutters sold in pharmacies to split a pill in half? This is common when the dosage needs to be adjusted. However, this practice is not always the safest way to get a half dose of a medication. It is important to remember that each has a specific function and its own characteristics, so it is essential to follow the instructions in the package leaflet and the pharmacists’ recommendations.
In some cases the tablets have a line in the center, which can be mistaken for a sign to facilitate division, but often this is just an aesthetic detail. This shape differs from ribbed tablets, which have a deeper mark, making it easier to cut safely.
“Tablets that do not have a groove should under no circumstances be broken, as there is no evidence on the safety and effectiveness of their administration and there may be different concentrations of substances on each side. The line on the tablet is only an aesthetic detail and, in these cases, as established by the resolution of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) of 2003, the restriction must appear on the information leaflet”, warns Amabili Leal Pieracio, pharmacist at Prati- Donaduzzi.
Is it safe?
To facilitate ingestion, we recommend blade cutters, on sale in the most popular shops, i.e. dividing the tablet in half to facilitate swallowing. However, these blades can crumble the tablet when cutting, resulting in inaccurate dosage division. To prevent the treatment from being compromised, it is recommended to swallow the tablet immediately after splitting.
Another common risk is opening the capsules to mix the contents in a glass of water. This practice can alter both the composition and therapeutic dosage of the drug.
“Opening capsules or splitting tablets can lead to subtherapeutic dosages or even overdose, compromising treatment and potentially leading to disease progression,” adds the pharmacist.
For these drugs, medical and pharmaceutical monitoring is recommended, so that together we can find the best way to adjust the dosages or carry out the division safely. When the medicine indicates on the leaflet that it has a groove that allows it to be cut, the process is simple. Simply use your hands on a smooth, clean surface to break it in half. Simply place your fingers on each end and apply pressure to release the tablet.
“It is important to highlight that, once the tablet has been scored, the other non-ingested half must be kept in the original packaging, since these are specially designed to maintain the physical and chemical properties and therapeutic effects of the product unaltered, from its production to its use”, concludes Amabili Leal Pieracio.
In all formats, the ideal is to purchase the correct dosage of each drug prescribed to the patient.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
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