Have you ever had to cut a small pill into quarters?

MuddyBoots · Jan 12, 2021 at 08:56 PM

How??? Even using a brand new pill splitter it just turns to powder.

Moose72 · Jan 12, 2021 at 11:15 PM

Maybe cut the pill in half and then cut each of those halves in half separately?

BeyondtheRainbow · Jan 12, 2021 at 11:27 PM

I cut my klonopin in half and then break the halves in my fingers. I don't get even fourths but it's close enough. On the other hand I get a PRN amount I never use so I guess I don't worry about it if I do find my breaking the pills has resulted in some too tiny to be useful pieces.

Soupe du jour · Jan 12, 2021 at 11:34 PM

Yes, Ativan. I did what Moose suggests. Or, if it is next to impossible, then perhaps a lower dose of that med (split in half vs. quarters) would help. For example, there are 0.5 mg Ativan pills than can be halved. Much easier than splitting 1 mg pills into four pieces. Also, some medication compounding centers can do the work for you, at your doctor's direction.

It's easier to split flat square or circle shaped pills. Not as easy to split one's that are more rounded or odd shaped.

*Beth* · Jan 13, 2021 at 10:21 AM

If the pill can't be properly cut you either need a smaller dose that doesn't require cutting, or a larger dose so the pill can be cut. If a pill turns to powder when cut, there's nothing to do but go up or down.

MuddyBoots · Jan 13, 2021 at 11:04 AM

I tried cutting in halves then those halves in halves (is there even another way to do get quarters without doing that??). There is no lower dose and if I go up a dose I'd have to cut it into 8ths which I'm going out on a limb and saying that cutting quarters in half is going to be harder than cutting halves in half even if the pill's diameter is half a millimeter larger.
I'm just going to crush that pill to powder and separating that into quarters. Probably more accurate that way too.

FluffyDinosaur · Jan 13, 2021 at 11:52 AM

For some meds you can get a solution (i.e. in a liquid) so you can use a syringe to get the exact dosage you want. I don't know which med you're dealing with in this case, but it can't hurt to ask the pharmacy if something like this is possible.

Crushing pills or breaking them into very small parts is not always advisable, as for some meds it can change the way your body absorbs them. That would be especially true for extended-release meds.

*Beth* · Jan 13, 2021 at 01:19 PM

FluffyD is correct; some meds are not supposed to be crushed. I'd talk with your pharmacist.

MuddyBoots · Jan 13, 2021 at 02:07 PM

Looked it up, it can be crushed, which makes sense because I can split it into fourths and that's basically the same thing.

MickeyCheeky · Jan 13, 2021 at 03:14 PM

i agree with the other wise posters about asking about this to your pharmacist or Pdoc. Hopefully they will be able to help. Otherwise a liquid version may be available perhaps. Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @Sapien, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

busymomof5 · Jan 13, 2021 at 04:20 PM

I have no answer for you. I actually had a large pill that was supposed to be split in 4. I have 3 pill cutters and bought a new one. I could get the pill in half, but the diagonal angle of the cutting area wouldn’t allow me to turn my half to 1/4. It just shaved off bits. I finally gave up and quit taking the med!

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MuddyBoots Monster on the Hill Member Since Sep 2020 Location: by the river Posts: 4,124 (SuperPoster!) 3 4,831 hugs given	Jan 12, 2021 at 08:56 PM #1 How??? Even using a brand new pill splitter it just turns to powder. __________________ Live life for nothing but that sweet sweet melody.
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Jan 13, 2021 at 10:21 AM #5 If the pill can't be properly cut you either need a smaller dose that doesn't require cutting, or a larger dose so the pill can be cut. If a pill turns to powder when cut, there's nothing to do but go up or down. __________________
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Jan 13, 2021 at 01:19 PM #8 FluffyD is correct; some meds are not supposed to be crushed. I'd talk with your pharmacist. __________________
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MuddyBoots Monster on the Hill Member Since Sep 2020 Location: by the river Posts: 4,124 (SuperPoster!) 3 4,831 hugs given	Jan 13, 2021 at 02:07 PM #9 Looked it up, it can be crushed, which makes sense because I can split it into fourths and that's basically the same thing. __________________ Live life for nothing but that sweet sweet melody.
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MickeyCheeky Legendary Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Italy Posts: 11,817 (SuperPoster!) 7 38.4k hugs given	Jan 13, 2021 at 03:14 PM #10 i agree with the other wise posters about asking about this to your pharmacist or Pdoc. Hopefully they will be able to help. Otherwise a liquid version may be available perhaps. Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @Sapien, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!
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busymomof5 Member Member Since Oct 2017 Location: TX Posts: 138 6 5 hugs given	Jan 13, 2021 at 04:20 PM #11 I have no answer for you. I actually had a large pill that was supposed to be split in 4. I have 3 pill cutters and bought a new one. I could get the pill in half, but the diagonal angle of the cutting area wouldn’t allow me to turn my half to 1/4. It just shaved off bits. I finally gave up and quit taking the med! __________________ I’m
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