Cutting Levo tablets

[Levo50]

Hi

I am going to increase my Levo from tomorrow and as I don’t want to change brand (Accord) I’m cutting my small 50mcg into quarters, I have a scalpel but it’s proving rather tricky to say the least to get 4 even pieces, any tips welcomed!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Levo50

I have this Safe and Sound pill cutter. I bought it from my local pharmacy :

amazon.co.uk/Safe-Sound-Pil...

[Levo50 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you very much x

[Anthea55]

Google for pill cutters and there's quite a selection. Mine cuts in halves, but there seem to be some which let you cut into smaller divisions. Google for 'pill cutter quarters' to see some.

[Levo50 in reply to Anthea55]

Thank you very much x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Levothyroxine is a storage hormone so it doesn’t need to be exactly same dose every day

So 1/4’s don’t need to be identical

[grumpyold]

I use a craft knife. Much finer blade than a scalpel.

[Levo50 in reply to grumpyold]

Apologies -it is a craft knife but still very tricky when trying to cut halves of a small tablet.

[JAmanda]

I tried several pill cutters - none worked accurately. I gave up and now use a tiny pair of scissors from a Xmas cracker and don't worry that one day I get more and the next less - it evens out over the week.

[helvella Administrator]

Some people alternate their levothyroxine dose in various patterns. Whilst I don't like doing so, preferring same dose every day, it does strongly suggest that modest variations are not very important.

Far more significant is making sure none gets lost. For example, bits flying off as you cut/split - whatever device or technique is used. If you are avoiding those losses, use anything you like!

[Levo50 in reply to helvella]

Yes I do believe taking half a tablet would be so much easier, especially as there is a cut line in the tablet, I’m trying to scoop up the crumbs. I did consider alternating the days to the point I wrote it on my calendar every day throughout Feb - However I do prefer consistency and considering my brain fog and insomnia every other night - I could quite easily forget where I was up to!

It would be so much easier to actually just increase by 25mcg as per GP’s advice but having learnt and reading lots on this site plus after a few decades unchanged, I feel it’s best to be extra cautious!

[helvella Administrator]

Yet pharmacies still sometimes offer to bulk-split tablets - which just about guarantees loss of crumbs and fails to achieve the "other half" approach of ensuring reasonable evenness.

[helvella Administrator]

It has been mentioned a few times here. Probably more common with other medicines - likely often being rather less sensitive to variations.