75/100 dose

[Sailing14]

I take 75/100 thyroxine. I have 50 mcg tablets. Can I quarter one and half one to receive 87.5 or will this affect the mcgs of thyroxine I receive? I was going to use two pill cutters so that I can keep the quarters and halves separate.

Thanks

[tattybogle]

yes you can do that .. any small differences from one quarter to another ( or one half to another) will even out over the next few days when you take the remaining pieces of that tablet.

I'd imagine it gets a bit fiddly with quarters , never tried it.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The biggest issue is probably losing crumbs.

Even if your breaks are not perfect, even if the active ingredient isn't perfectly distributed, it will probably be adequate. Almost certainly better than 75/100 alternate day dosing.

But don't break them ahead of time - do it as needed. That will minimise variations and any effects of oxygen, humidity and light on the contents.

[Sailing14 in reply to helvella]

Thank you for your advice. I would have to quarter one so that would mean ahead of time for the next three days and two for the half tablet. Is that okay?

Also, could I ask if you have experience with alternate day fusing and if it affected your health and well-being.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sailing14]

A day or two or three isn't the problem. It is when people cut multiple tablets days or weeks ahead. Or when pharmacies bulk split!

Yes - alternate day dosing is something many of us have done.

I slightly prefer the same dose every day but some of us feel it makes little or no difference.

[Sailing14 in reply to helvella]

Thank you again. I will try the 87.5 dose and see if things improve from where they are now.

[jade_s in reply to Sailing14]

I pre-split a week's (well 8 day's) worth of 100s and 75s to get 87.5 and put them in a weekly pill box, kept on my nightstand. It's worked well for me for several years already I hadn't realized there might be issues with this, helvella!

My system can't tolerate changing doses from one day to the next, i get migraines and weird symptoms.

I've quarted them in the same way while increasing to 87.5.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to jade_s]

It isn't the absolute worst thing in the world!

If you split a single tablet and take one half today, the other half tomorrow, then any slight unevenness isn't very important. And you can make sure any crumbs get taken at the time you split the tablet.

But if you bulk split 28 tablets, then you could take the 28 small halves for a month, then the large halves for the next month.

And, if you find crumbs from splitting, they are likely either to get lost or end up at the bottom of the box. Indeed, losing crumbs would be expected with a bulk split by a pharmacy.

It is this bulk splitting that is a real issue.

What you are doing is probably the right side of the fence! The fact that, despite doing this, you seem to be getting what you need is rather proof of this!

[jade_s in reply to helvella]

Thanks! Yes I always put the split ones on adjacent days, so it evens out, even when imperfectly split.

I was more thinking about the humidity, oxidation you mentioned. Had never occurred to me but makes sense.

I had not realized pharmacies bulk split. That's a bit crazy!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to jade_s]

I think just being aware and not keeping the tablets in the same room you use for showering! And out of direct light.

Bulk splitting is more common with other medicines - where there might not be multiple dosages available. And it might be perfectly acceptable for some medicines.

[jade_s in reply to helvella]

Or in the kitchen 🙈 Even though we have an open kitchen...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Try cutting with sharp craft scalpel

Mop up any crumbs with damp finger

[Bearo]

Probably not appropriate for those who can feel if they’ve taken their levo or not, but I achieve an average of 85mcg a day by taking 6x100mcg a week and no dose on Sundays.