Changes

*To obtain the correct dosage; for example, in some cases a doctor might advise a half-tablet dosage for a child.

*To obtain the correct dosage; for example, in some cases a doctor might advise a half-tablet dosage for a child.

*To stretch out a supply of a drug when the patient cannot afford the proper dosage. Obviously this is a dangerous practice, but impoverished patients have been known to do it.

*To stretch out a supply of a drug when the patient cannot afford the proper dosage. Obviously this is a dangerous practice, but impoverished patients have been known to do it.

*To save money by deliberately purchasing tablets that contain twice the proper dosage and splitting them.

*To save money on prescription drugs deliberately purchasing tablets that contain twice the proper dosage and splitting them. (The practice requires the cooperation of the doctor prescribing the drug).

The phrase '''pill splitting''' often refers to this third strategy. It is made possible by a quirk of pharmaceutical economics: in many cases, ''the price of a tablet of a particular drug almost the same regardless of the dosage.'' For example, one online pharmacy quotes these prices for simvastatin, a frequently-prescribed cholesterol-reducing drug:<ref>[http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy/drugindex/rxsearch.asp?search=simvastatin&expand=Simvastatin&trx=1Z5007 Simvastatin], drugstore.com.</ref>

The phrase '''pill splitting''' often refers to this third strategy. It is made possible by a quirk of pharmaceutical economics: in many cases, ''the price of a tablet of a particular drug almost the same regardless of the dosage.'' For example, one online pharmacy quotes these prices for simvastatin, a frequently-prescribed cholesterol-reducing drug:<ref>[http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy/drugindex/rxsearch.asp?search=simvastatin&expand=Simvastatin&trx=1Z5007 Simvastatin], drugstore.com.</ref>

Even when a pill is intended for splitting, reasonably good eyesight and coordination, and it is one more instruction that a patient needs to follow correctly.  

Even when a pill is intended for splitting, reasonably good eyesight and coordination, and it is one more instruction that a patient needs to follow correctly.  

Nevertheless, some insurers and large organizations are actively encouraging the practice of buying doubled doses and splitting pills. For example, Illinois recently began encouraging Medicaid patients to do this with some drugs<ref>[http://web.lmic.state.mn.us/issues/scan.htm?Id=3168 Illinois asks Medicaid patients to split tablets to save money], while the University of Michigan supplies free pill-splitting devices and encourages students and faculty to take advantage of the practice as a way of saving on co-payments.<ref>[http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0506/Jan23_06/02.shtml Pill-splitting program to cut cost of employee co-pays], University of Michigan Record online</ref>

Nevertheless, some insurers and large organizations are actively encouraging the practice of buying tablets with twice the appropriate dose and splitting pills. For example, Illinois recently began encouraging Medicaid patients to do this with some drugs<ref>[http://web.lmic.state.mn.us/issues/scan.htm?Id=3168 Illinois asks Medicaid patients to split tablets to save money], while the University of Michigan supplies free pill-splitting devices and encourages students and faculty to take advantage of the practice as a way of saving on co-payments.<ref>[http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0506/Jan23_06/02.shtml Pill-splitting program to cut cost of employee co-pays], University of Michigan Record online</ref>

==Notes and references==

==Notes and references==

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