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Add description of pill splitters per Hsmom
Not all pills are designed to be split, and the production process is not necessarily designed to distribute the drug evenly within the pill; thus, even if the pill splits into two portions that appear equal in size, they may not contain equal quantities of the drug. Generally speaking, if the pill is not manufactured with a scored groove, it is not intended to be split.
Not all pills are designed to be split, and the production process is not necessarily designed to distribute the drug evenly within the pill; thus, even if the pill splits into two portions that appear equal in size, they may not contain equal quantities of the drug. Generally speaking, if the pill is not manufactured with a scored groove, it is not intended to be split.
Although grooved pills can be split with a knife and a steady hand, it is much better to use an inexpensive [[#pill splitter|pill splitter]].
'''Pill splitting''' can be done for several reasons:
'''Pill splitting''' can be done for several reasons:
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 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>
==Pill splitters==
In the U. S. most pharmacies stock inexpensive<ref>One online pharmacy show several devices with prices ranging from $3.29 to $6.59</ref> "pill splitters" or "tablet cutters" which split pills easily and reliably.
A pill splitter is typically a hinged pair of arms. The upper arm contains a blade. The lower arm contains a pair of spring-metal strips that hold the pill accurately centered under the blade. The blade and pill are placed near the hinge, providing leverage which makes it easy to apply a firm pressure. The device encloses the pill while it is being split, preventing the half from flying apart or getting lost.
==Notes and references==
==Notes and references==
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[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Medicine]]