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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on November 23, 2005, at 14:28:45
i was wondering if it is a bad idea to split pills that aren't scored. it's so i can take a lower dose but buy the higher dose and split the pills and save money...
i was wondering if maybe the medicinal ingredient was not distrbuted evenly throughout the pill... in which case making pill-splitting unreliable dosage-wise. or if there were other factors, like tablet structure or something wierd.
its brand name Aricept (donepezil) i'm wondering about, btw.
Posted by pseudoname on November 23, 2005, at 15:55:01
In reply to splitting pills that aren't scored, posted by iforgotmypassword on November 23, 2005, at 14:28:45
> i was wondering if it is a bad idea to split pills that aren't scored
Lots of people do it. In fact, a study¹ on pill-splitting found that the scoring makes no difference in accuracy.
It looks like the Aricept pills have a "film" coating on them, but since (as you know) they're dissolved on the tongue anyway, there's no time-release or enteric concern. Aricept tablets aren't layered or marbeled or anything; one half will be as good as another.
I suspect the Aricept crumbles easily, so you may lose a little in the cut. Have you ever used one of those $7 splitters they have in the drug store?
For comparison, you can laugh at what I've been doing to use tiny fractions of my Subutex tablets: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20051106/msgs/580668.html
Posted by Phillipa on November 23, 2005, at 20:42:01
In reply to splitting Aricept » iforgotmypassword, posted by pseudoname on November 23, 2005, at 15:55:01
I think a lot of it is psychological also. If you think it is indeed evenly distributed it will work. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by theo on November 23, 2005, at 21:59:14
In reply to splitting pills that aren't scored, posted by iforgotmypassword on November 23, 2005, at 14:28:45
How is Aricept working for you?
Posted by med_empowered on November 24, 2005, at 1:46:35
In reply to Re: splitting pills that aren't scored » iforgotmypassword, posted by theo on November 23, 2005, at 21:59:14
i dont know about aricept, but an old shrink of mine told me to use a pill-splicer...since alot of times you need to "start low, go slow" with med adjustments, it makes sense for a doc to RX a certain amount, then let you splice up the med until you find **exactly** the right dose for you.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on November 24, 2005, at 11:15:25
In reply to Re: splitting pills that aren't scored, posted by med_empowered on November 24, 2005, at 1:46:35
yeah it seems aricept has a ridiculously long half life, so like it may have that tapering up effect on its own.
This is the end of the thread.
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