Changes

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

*To save money on prescription drugs by 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 is almost the same regardless of the dosage.'' For example, one online pharmacy quotes these prices for simvastatin<ref>[http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy/drugindex/rxsearch.asp?search=simvastatin&expand=Simvastatin&trx=1Z5007 Simvastatin], drugstore.com.</ref>, a frequently-prescribed cholesterol-reducing drug (and one that the [[U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs|VA]] considers suitable for splitting<ref>[http://www.research.va.gov/news/press_releases/tablet-splitting-111004.cfm Tablet-splitting Saves VA $46.5 Million on Popular Statin]</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 is almost the same regardless of the dosage.'' For example, one online pharmacy quotes these prices for simvastatin<ref>[http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy/drugindex/rxsearch.asp?search=simvastatin&expand=Simvastatin&trx=1Z5007 Simvastatin], drugstore.com.</ref>, a frequently-prescribed cholesterol-reducing drug (and one that the [[U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs|VA]] considers suitable for splitting<ref name=va>[http://www.research.va.gov/news/press_releases/tablet-splitting-111004.cfm Tablet-splitting Saves VA $46.5 Million on Popular Statin]</ref>):

*90 20-mg tablets: $73.97

*90 20-mg tablets: $73.97

*90 40-mg tablets: $74.97

*90 40-mg tablets: $74.97

The practice is controversial. Drug manufacturers oppose it, partly for self-serving reasons, but partly out of serious concerns.  It is dangerous when a pill is not designed for splitting, or if it is a drug in which it is important for every dose to be precise. Even when a pill is intended for splitting, splitting requires reasonably good eyesight and coordination. It is also another instruction that a patient needs to follow correctly. Thus there is an increased danger of the patient making dosage mistakes.

The practice is controversial. Drug manufacturers oppose it, partly for self-serving reasons, but partly out of serious concerns.  It is dangerous when a pill is not designed for splitting, or if it is a drug in which it is important for every dose to be precise. Even when a pill is intended for splitting, splitting requires reasonably good eyesight and coordination. It is also another instruction that a patient needs to follow correctly. Thus there is an increased danger of the patient making dosage mistakes.

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>

Nevertheless, some insurers and large organizations are actively encouraging the practice of buying tablets with twice the appropriate dose and splitting them, ''for certain specific medications." The VA, for example, notes that "[[statins]] are a good candidate for tablet-splitting [because] the dose doesn't have to be as exact as with some other classes of drugs to be effective."<ref name=va/> 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>

 

==Pill splitters==

==Pill splitters==