Pill cutter technique - advice please

[Pongo13]

Am tapering down to 10 from 12.5 from today and agreed with medicine manager (doctor on hols) to have stash of "ones" so I can come down half a week. Decided to pop into medicine containers and began prep (12 - easy) and following week 11.5 - but the pill cutter shattered the 1mg tablet. (I used pill cutter for first time today and sit awaiting advice on whether there is a particular technique to this? Was I unlucky! Is this the norm? Am I an idiot?). I have searched but couldn't find similar previous enquiry.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Think we all have problems time to time. Most pill cutter have a “v” shape where you put the pill, make sure you put pill in tight lining up the line if there is one on tablet with where the blad is going to hit (haven’t got one to check, but don’t think there is!).

Then press down evenly and firmly - think we sometimes do it too hard and then when it shatters. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but most times it’s okay, and it doesn’t matter if you have to ditch the occasional odd “half”.

Practice makes perfect!

[Pongo13 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks v much. I believe I went too hard! I will now begin with your advice in mind! Have a super BH weekend!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Pongo13]

Should have read “blade”, but you know what I meant. Don’t understand why system lets you edit sometimes and not others!

Have a lovely weekend yourself.

[SheffieldJane in reply to DorsetLady]

I am glad you said that about editing, I was beginning to think it had a sense of humour with my typos.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

It would appear there are more glitches than answers - see latest post from Telian/ lynnc84, and my doppelgänger from yesterday!

Perhaps the aliens have finally invaded!

[SheffieldJane in reply to DorsetLady]

👽👽👽👽👽👽

[hiandri in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DL,

Saw your comment. Polly and I are on a Viking cruise in Würzburg, Germany, hot sunny weather. Heading for Amsterdam, then Prague, Moscow and St Petersburg. Hope you are well. I’m now down to 7.5mg so leaded with that. Take care. John

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to hiandri]

Hi John,

Good, glad to hear that. Hope you both have a lovely time, give my regards to Polly.

Catch up another day! !

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Pongo, if you manage to do it more gently and successfully, don't worry if they don't cut in half evenly, just keep the other half for the next day - you will still have had the correct dose over the two days which should be fine...or at least it was for me, although I didn't use a pill box!

[Rimmy in reply to Celtic]

I've never been able to get 'perfect' halves whatever I used - so yes Celtic your approach is exactly what I have been doing and obviously when you cut 25 mg in half it is even more crucial to have the 'other' half the next day. And I have never noticed any problems with the amount I 'feel' like I have had that day.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Rimmy]

And I hope you don’t have any more of ‘those days, ever, Rimmy!🙂.

[Pongo13]

Thanks Celtic. The first one had to be taken today as it was all over the place! And I do so hate waste! However as Dorset Lady says, if I have to ditch the odd, zillion piece half, no matter!

[Lynnc84 in reply to Pongo13]

Reminds me of my sister years ago - she was reducing anti-depressants, when she got nearly to zero, she used to dab her finger in the dust! Whatever it takes...

[JanetRosslyn]

If you get your tablets in 1s 5s and 2.5s then you don't need to cut anything until you get to the really low dose of 1.5. Works for me, I'm on the coated pred which you must not cut.

[Lynnc84]

Was just going to say the same as JanetRosslyn so won't repeat.

Best wishes

[SheffieldJane]

The first one I got was rubbish. I paid a bit more for a better one, sharp as a razor blade. I have a special pill box for the halves . I have swallowed crumbs before and was all good. It is not you. 😉

[SheffieldJane]

PS lots of liquid with crumbly bits. They can give you a sore tongue I think.

[Pongo13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Tongue sore with oral thrush so on that one with daktarin! But thanks for the heads up.

[Wbednell in reply to Pongo13]

Pongo have you tried eating pineapple instead of daktarin one of my tummies told me to do this instead of giving me a script it really works much better than daktarin I use pineapple in juice

[Pongo13 in reply to Wbednell]

Just back from London and had pineapple I fridge which has sorted my sore tongue tip nicely thanks! Great tip.

[altywhite in reply to Wbednell]

Hi there...really interested to hear about the pineapple!! Just tinned? Not fresh? I have the Daktarin gel for oral thrush, it works brilliantly but would rather have an alternative.

[Pongo13 in reply to altywhite]

I used fresh

[Hidden]

Hi Pongo

3rd attempt to reply to you, the Server or the Site has issues this afternoon!

So, I was waiting for my Script this week & Pharmacist said they didn’t have any 2.5mg coated Pred, would l like uncoated? That was a new one on me, l didn’t know they did plain 2.5mgs?

So ask your GP for 5mg; 2.5mg & 1mg & you can make up the doses until you get to 1.5mg without trying to split them.

I still wanted the 2.5mg coated which l collected yesterday.

Hope you’re enjoying the sunshine 🌞

Best Wishes

Mrs N 💅🏼

[Pongo13 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks! My maths is obviously rubbish! Can't even blame it on steroids. I have had to sign on again with the password to answer peeps! Heat stroke for the site no doubt.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Practice makes perfect!

Are 5mg tabs easier to cut? 2.5mg plus 5s or 1s will make up doses to drop by 0.5mg. And accuracy is not essential...

[Pongo13]

It's obvious when pointed out re the mix of tablets to get to the required dose minus any cutting at all! However, the medicine manager factored in my pill cutter to the prescription! I guess I will have to ask for more! Thanks everyone for the excellent feedback!

[HeronNS]

I now do it by holding pill cutter vertically in air, not on a suface, and closing firmly. Used to get one good half and one pile of crumbs. Now more often than not get two decent although not exactly equal halves. ☺

[Wenben]

I asked exactly the same question on here some time ago because the one I had was rubbish. Consequently I bought a 'Safe & Sound Pill & Tablet cutter'. I got mine from Boots but I think they only do the combined cutter/crusher now which you don't really want.

It is however available on Amazon. Mine works every time. .

[Pongo13 in reply to Wenben]

Thanks, good advice; decided to have another go next week when income down another half. Yesterday was meant to be free of stress in anticipation of day out to London today!

[PMR2011 in reply to Pongo13]

Contrary to what other folks have said, after lining up the line with the “V” I give it one sharp tap. It does the trick very nicely.

If uneven, no big deal as the dose comes out fine over 2 days. Enjoy the sunshine!

[maria40]

I'm now on enteric coated for all doses but got so fed up with pill cuttters when I was taking uncoated that one day in desperation I seized my ultra sharp bonsai scissors and got two perfect halves. I went on doing this until I switched to enteric coated and it was always successful.

[kezzybabes]

I use a scalpel and cut on a facecloth so there is ‘give’. Works really well. I cut 5mg tabs into 4 this way so I have 1.25 mg bits. Next step 1mg. I’m heading to zero and almost there!!!

[HeronNS in reply to kezzybabes]

Good point. My holding in the air does the same thing, avoids the shattering vibration caused by hard surface. Think I'll try placing cutter on a soft surface next time.

[sondya]

The pharmacist will do it for you. Helped me after my pathetic efforts.

[NanJean]

If your pill is scored, it has a slight rounded face. With one finger on either side of tablet & scored line between them, press down. The pill will break in half.

I take my dose 2xs a day. As i taper, this requires some one mg to be split. I take the larger half in the morning. I don't mix all the halves together. I keep a one day supply in one of those 7 day pill containers. That way by 2 doses I have a complete pill.

[NanJean]

I have to split Pepcid 4 ways for my cat. It's hard, coated & not scored. A vet showed me that they use a dog nail clipper to cut the pill. I bought one as she showed me (the guillotine type). And it's better than any other pill cutter I've used. It's not perfect quarters, but I have little containers I got from Dollar Tree. I labeled them 1 through 8. Then I put one pill which is in 4 pieces into number 1. I repeat that so that each container contains one whole pill. I use container # 1 over 4 doses. Then I go to #2. etc. That way over 4 doses i know the cat has gotten one complete pill. And not larger pieces for several days & smaller pieces other days. The Pepcid rarely splits perfectly.

I do find my Prednisone is too crumbly for this. And we were taught that if a pill is not scored, the medicine in the pill isn't necessarily evenly distributed throughout the tablet & not to cut it in half.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to NanJean]

"we were taught that if a pill is not scored, the medicine in the pill isn't necessarily evenly distributed throughout the tablet & not to cut it in half."

Yes, I have heard that. But I have also heard from the manufacturers themselves that it makes no difference. The mix for the tablets (active substance plus fillers) is made the same way whether the stamp for the pill is scored or not. The distribution of the active substance will be the same.

[NanJean in reply to PMRpro]

This was especially told to us with regard to Digoxin especially. It's good to hear that manufacturers don't agree.

[Pongo13]

Thanks jean. Tabs not scored. I have dogs but they go to groomers - nail cutters might be a useful, for the future, purchase. BUT... My hub used my nail clippers on Guinea pig's teeth and thereafter I couldn't use on my trotters and had to buy a separate, hidden, pair! Have to buy Two pairs then!

[patsy69 in reply to Pongo13]

I stopped prednisolone 9 months ago , after struggling for months with reducing. I think it is vital that your GP gives you plenty of spare tablets.

Also I used to divide several and then use the bigger 'halves' first , then the smaller. Patsy69

[Wbednell]

fresh or tinned they both work just I I find it easier with tinned no fuss hope you find this helps