Cutting 20mcg pills evenly (into 5mcg and 2.5mcg) - Thyroid UK

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Cutting 20mcg pills evenly (into 5mcg and 2.5mcg)

liaratsoni profile image
34 Replies

Hi everyone

I take 12.5mcg t3 a day split from a 20mcg pill - I have been on 10mcg for a while and always used a knife to cut the t3 in half then quarters but some days it cuts into good even 1/4s then other days not so much and sometimes it crumbles which is a pain when it comes to not wanting to waste t3 but I want to make sure I get an accurate as possible dose as I react strongly to it. As I am now taking 2.5mcg I'm also now having to split a quarter in half which isn't easy!

Are there any options that work well for even cutting - I got a pill cutter but its awful and cut them very unevenly! Would something like a sharp scalpel work well or even a better pill cutter?

Many thanks!

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34 Replies
Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

I have a basic pill cutter from Boots and it quarters the 20mcg better than I managed with a scalpel. I wouldn't want to cut them any smaller! Can you not just go up in quarter tablets.

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to Lalatoot

Thank you thats good to know to not waste money on a scalpel - I must have just got a dud pill cutter haha! Unfortunately I am someone who reacts very strongly to increases so have to do it very slowly!

Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot in reply to liaratsoni

Some folks manage with a scalpel but for me it ended up as dust. I could have snorted it! 😊

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I use a scalpel/hobby knife, and like it far more than any pill cutters I've bought.

I may have just been unlucky but the pill cutters went blunt so incredibly quickly and they ended up just crushing tablets.

I have spare blades for my scalpel which means it lasts for ages. I've never seen a pill cutter being supplied with spare blades.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to humanbean

I also find sharp scalpel far better than pill cutter

It’s known as “cutting the coke” in my house!!

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to SlowDragon

Haha slowdragon my family said similar about mine 😂 Thank you both this is very helpful to know! :)

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to humanbean

Thank you! Where did you get the scalpel from?

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to liaratsoni

Amazon has quite a few to choose from :

amazon.co.uk/Modelcraft-PKN...

There are cheaper ones with handles made of less strong stuff - just search for "scalpel".

amazon.co.uk/Amtech-AM-S049...

jimh111 profile image
jimh111

I snap them between fingers and thumbs, it means they don't crumble. If you only need to halve the quarters for a short time you could dissolve them in water and drink half discarding the rest. The manufacturers have started recommending this option so they can make more money. It's wasteful but would be OK for a week or two.

Stourie profile image
Stourie in reply to jimh111

If the quarter pill was crushed and then halved, they could be dissolved in water separately and there's two doses and no waste. Jo xx

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to jimh111

I would never have thought of that! Thank you but unfortunately the quarters are long term as I can only tolerate 5mcg of t3 at a time because of my adrenals

jimh111 profile image
jimh111 in reply to liaratsoni

I meant if you need 1/8, the 1/4 tablets should be no problem. If one 1/4 is slightly larger than another it shouldn't matter as it evens out over the day.

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to jimh111

ah I see thank you! :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Ridiculous money spinning idea to dissolve in water and throw rest away

Better to be prescribed smaller 5mcg or 10mcg tablets, though they are more expensive

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

jimh111 profile image
jimh111 in reply to SlowDragon

I'm assuming tablets are being purchased from Germany at 30p each and a quarter is dissolved with half thrown away for a few weeks. Net loss will be 4p daily.

HashiFedUp profile image
HashiFedUp

The best thing by far for pill cutting is a scalpel !

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to HashiFedUp

Thank you! :)

Tim558 profile image
Tim558

Hi there. what I did was buy Jewellry scales, accurate to 0.001g.

1 Grain armour NDT weights 0.1g, so I can get accurate 0.5 grain or 0.25 grain. The scales were £15 off ebay.

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to Tim558

Ah this is very useful! Thank you I will look into this :)

Baggieswidow profile image
Baggieswidow

My pharmacist gave me a brilliant pill cutter but now I get them prescribed in 5mcg

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to Baggieswidow

Thank you!

Laurien profile image
Laurien

When I moved Levo to 75 g from 100g I said to the doctor I would just cut the 100 and she asked if they were marked with a line and I said no. She told me something I didn’t know that if there is no line they are not meant to be cut!! She prescribed a 50 and a 25!

I use the chemist attached to my GP’s surgery. They now cut the tablets in half for me before I get them so have no problems. I had my first lot of T3 from the hospital with a pill cutter to cut the 20mcg in half. I found it difficult as sometimes wasn’t properly in half and sometimes it crumbled. I rang the chemist by the surgery and my daughter went and got a different one which was an improvement but they said they’d cut them in future.

swmartin profile image
swmartin

First and MOST importantly - ensure that your tablets are not sugar coated (i.e. not Tevo - Morningside or Mercury brands only). With non-sugar coated tablets, try an old fashioned razor blade. They are very thin and sharp and work really well (for me). Cheaper than a scalpel too. Initially, I was very careful when handling it but now I don't even think about it. I keep it in a repurposed ear plug box.

Sugar coated tablets just disintegrate into little pieces when cut and it is impossible to get anything close to a reasonably accurate dose. I had to shop around to find a pharmacy who can obtain the brands that I want - Morningside or Mercury, both of which are not sugar coated. High street pharmacies (Boots, Lloyds, etc.) do not stock these brands and will not order in for you.

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to swmartin

Ah thank you - fortunately I don't take teva due to poor reaction! Razor blades is a good idea!

Smogmonster profile image
Smogmonster in reply to swmartin

I get both Morningside and/or Mercury from my local Boots... They order them specifically because I yellow carded Teva. It all depends on the Pharmacists and your relationship with them.

I have the same challenge ;) I take 17.5 of t3, Thybon. I split 20 into 8s with my fingers so it doesnt crumble. I first split it according to the dotted line, then halve it according to letter B on a pill and then quarter of that. My doctor was amazed, I would prefer to take 20, but like you, I am quite sensitive :) and you'd think that these pills should be in 5, 10s etc...nope, onle one size for thybon :)

liaratsoni profile image
liaratsoni in reply to

I believe mine is thybon too! So you use your fingers to split into 8s? I might give that a go if thats the case as we have the same tablet! Thank you :)

in reply to liaratsoni

I do and it is thybon 20 mcg :) best of luck!

Rosebud1955 profile image
Rosebud1955

Hi,

Can you not get the 5mcg. tabs. That would be easier. I too have to cut pills to get my correct dose, I cut the 5mcg tabs and that’s easy & accurate. Good luck!!

in reply to Rosebud1955

In my case being in Ireland, the only available t3 med is Thybon and it comes in 20 mcg :( I wish I could get my hands on 5 :)

Rosebud1955 profile image
Rosebud1955 in reply to

So sorry, I live in Canada. We only have the 25mcg & 5mcg. Sometimes I wished we had the 20mcg as well. Everything is so complicated in the thyroid world. I think the powers that be don’t make anything easy for us. Just do your best, good luck.

in reply to Rosebud1955

Oh right, it seems each country has its own array of doses, either one pill or two extremes like 5 and 25 :) best of luck to you too Rosebud!

Dwidgett profile image
Dwidgett

Couldn't you explain to your pharmacist your dilemma and maybe they could cut them for you.

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