topic Re: scored medications in Wellness

scored medications

catter70 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 14:41:23 GMT

Does anyone know how to split a scored pill in half evenly. I use the pill cutter, but by the time the razor gets to the pill, the pill moves and it it's never cut evenly.

Re: scored medications

SilleeMee — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 14:46:43 GMT

My guess is that your cutter needs to be replaced. Sounds like the blade is dull...??

Re: scored medications

xrayrox — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 15:02:33 GMT

I have to do this for my husband. First , I turn the pill over so you can't see the scores line. Then I bring the blade down slowly to make sure it looks centered and the whack it. It works every time for me. For some reason , doing it with scored side up it would always screwed it up. Hope this helps.

Re: scored medications

Carmie — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 17:28:07 GMT

My pill splitter locks the pill in place so that doesn't move.

I think you need a better pill splitter.

I have also split scored pills with a sharp paring knife. I put it on a clean kitchen towel while doing it and never had a problem. This method works well, except for very small pills.

Re: scored medications

KathyM23 — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 18:11:52 GMT

I have found that I do not need a pill spliter for my pills. I turn them so the scored side is down on those that are not so hard and the score line is up on the harder ones, put my thumbnail where the score would be, hold both ends of the pill and break it in half. Works for me.

My friend bought a pill spliter and could not get it to work and brought it over for me and DH to help her. Neither of us could get it to work properly. Told her she probably needed to get a better pill spliter.

Re: scored medications

hckynutjohn — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 18:23:38 GMT

@catter70 wrote:
Does anyone know how to split a scored pill in half evenly. I use the pill cutter, but by the time the razor gets to the pill, the pill moves and it it's never cut evenly.

@catter70

Been cutting pills in half for years, some thinner ones with my fingers. Other than that! All the pill cutters I have I got from my dozens of hospital stays.

Unless I move the cutter before pressing it to cut, the pill stays put, and it's a pretty even cut. Occasionally there are pills that are not compressed as well when made. With those I sometimes get a jagged edge and some powder. But itty bitty pieces I doubt effect the strength of my pills.

Might try a new and different cutter, and razor blades do get dull.

hckynut

Re: scored medications

geegerbee — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 19:51:12 GMT

The scoring is so you can break it in half easily without a pill splitter. I usually only use a splitter on ones that arent scored. But, I think without the scoring, they aren't meant to be divided.

Re: scored medications

NickNack — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 19:56:58 GMT

@catter70 You need a pill splitter that has a "V" in the back like this one that I found on Amazon. You can buy them at any pharmacy, too.

I use a pill splitter every day, but I don't cut the pills on the score necessarily. A good pill splitter will cut any pill with or without a score.

Re: scored medications

SilleeMee — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 19:58:45 GMT

@NickNack wrote:
@catter70 You need a pill splitter that has a "V" in the back like this one that I found on Amazon. You can buy them at any pharmacy, too.

I use a pill splitter every day, but I don't cut the pills on the score necessarily. A good pill splitter will cut any pill with or without a score.

Yes! I have one like that and it's the best kind.

Re: scored medications

CelticCrafter — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 20:56:20 GMT

@NickNack wrote:
@catter70 You need a pill splitter that has a "V" in the back like this one that I found on Amazon. You can buy them at any pharmacy, too.

I use a pill splitter every day, but I don't cut the pills on the score necessarily. A good pill splitter will cut any pill with or without a score.

We have this one and I was shocked at how easy it was to cut through. It was like a hot knife cutting through butter!

Re: scored medications

Toppers3 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 01:47:05 GMT

I have to split my small heart pills in half.

They're like the size of an aspirin.

They're scored in the middle already, so I try and line them up where the line is in the pill with the razor in the cutter, and then cut them that way.

It usually works out pretty well that way and I get a pretty even cut down the middle.

It's not always perfect and sometimes the pill will shift because it's small, but most of the time I get a pretty even cut down the middle.

Re: scored medications

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 02:14:49 GMT

@catter70 wrote:
Does anyone know how to split a scored pill in half evenly. I use the pill cutter, but by the time the razor gets to the pill, the pill moves and it it's never cut evenly.

@catter70

I saw my mom do this years ago ..... put a pill, score side up on a plate or cutting board. Place the blade of a sharp paring knife mid way into the score, and press evenly and quickly ... pill cleanly splits in half.

Re: scored medications

chrystaltree — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 22:22:04 GMT

You need a new pill cutter.