Splitting capsules into smaller doses?

[Anonymous]

I've split pills with a cutter. I have this medication, powder in a capsule, for which a dose 4x as strong is only 1.5x as expensive. I see you can buy gelatin capsules on Amazon. Seems I should just ask the doctor for the 4x prescription and repackage it at home into smaller doses. All I have to do is eyeball it into 4 portions. Right?

[Anonymous]

Um no. They are in capsule form for a reason, the release is slower by design. You "repackaging" the pills at home is a very bad idea OP

[Anonymous]

Are there consequences to having a dose that is to low or too high? Your dose will not be precise if you do this. I would discuss this with your doctor.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/pill-splitting-when-is-it-safe-when-is-it-unsafe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um no. They are in capsule form for a reason, the release is slower by design. You "repackaging" the pills at home is a very bad idea OP

OP here. I think the release is in the powder. The capsule goes away within a minute or two of entering the stomach. (I think.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there consequences to having a dose that is to low or too high? Your dose will not be precise if you do this. I would discuss this with your doctor.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/pill-splitting-when-is-it-safe-when-is-it-unsafe

I think it's close enough if you eyeball it.

[Anonymous]

Don't. Eyeballing is a bad method of dosage. Not all capsules are the same. When you are talking nano grams and milligrams, you can easily overdose.

[Anonymous]

Sorry: 1103 again. Single dosages may / do have a different ratio of fillers / inert ingredients to change absorption.

You are working in very small tolerances. Why risk your health?

[Anonymous]

Talk to your doctor about it. They can tell which pills can be split and which can't.

[Anonymous]

It's common to open the capsules for patients that can't swallow a capsule (like children or the elderly) -- you just sprinkle it on yogurt or applesauce. But I agree with others that it would be hard to split up evenly, and that each of the little grains might not be the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Health care worker here, and you can't split these doses accurately. Don't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk to your doctor about it. They can tell which pills can be split and which can't.

You don't talk to a doctor. You talk to a pharmacist, who is trained in pharmacology. most doctors don't know what pills can be split or which ones can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's common to open the capsules for patients that can't swallow a capsule (like children or the elderly) -- you just sprinkle it on yogurt or applesauce. But I agree with others that it would be hard to split up evenly, and that each of the little grains might not be the same thing.

This is FALSE. Depending on the mediation, dosage, and type, you may be able to sprinkle... Others you cannot.

Also keep in mind that the dosage you are talking about "sprinkling", the doctor had prescribed. OP is talking about quartering a dose.

All those magical sprinkles in the capsule, OP? Some may contain excess med and some not at all. Wha you need to do is crush and homogenize entire contents inside, re-weigh to the microgram level, and repack.

Higher dosages cost less because of the greater tolerances of drug required. Like you can buy at Costco for less. It doesn't mean your haut as safe to divide your ends like toilet paper.

[Anonymous]

I'm taking Augtryo 40mg capsules and choke on them often. Some hang up and gag me as they dissolve. I need smaller capsules than 40 mg. What can I do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um no. They are in capsule form for a reason, the release is slower by design. You "repackaging" the pills at home is a very bad idea OP

This is ridiculous. They are CAPSULES not pills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've split pills with a cutter. I have this medication, powder in a capsule, for which a dose 4x as strong is only 1.5x as expensive. I see you can buy gelatin capsules on Amazon. Seems I should just ask the doctor for the 4x prescription and repackage it at home into smaller doses. All I have to do is eyeball it into 4 portions. Right?

Get a ceramic mortar and pestle. Get a small scale if you want to weigh them properly.

If you are going to eyeball it, then mix all the pills together in the mortar with a glass stir rod thoroughly, before repacking them in the capsules.

Wash well before starting any of this and sanitize the mortar and other instruments prior to starting.

It's not rocket science.