I hate this

I took a 50 hr hands on course for pharmacy technician. Most pills can be split with out losing effectiveness. But the main reason that you end up having to split pills is because it's cheaper for the hmo's and ppo's to pay for it that way instead of considering the benfits for their members to get the 20mg pill form. It is something that you can ask for what is called an inital determination from your insurance company... You then get your doctor to back you saying that it is in your best interest that you get the 20mg form so that you have less chance of cutting one half too small. By the way the only reason i know the procedure for and initial determination is because I worked for Highmark Senior products which is Security blue and Freedom blue. When you ask for this initial determination they will tell you to have your doctor call the provider line but you tell them you want to start it and they have to open one for you. good luck

Thankfully im not old so i dont have meds yet hehehehe.

The cost for the bigger pills i cheapre, I believe, so the pharmacy gives you the large ones and has you split them. It happens a lot. If the effectiveness was in question, the pharmacy would not have you do this. Some concern has been expressed that not every one who takes meds and split them is capapble of doing this the right way.

While I can't say for ALL pills, I don't think that splitting the Lipitor decreases its effectiveness. My father has done the same in the past. I wonder why they are giving you the 40's? Perhaps it is cheaper that way? I would ask and if it isn't cheaper or something, I'd very strongly urge them to give me the 20's if that is what you want! Goodness knows they make enough off the medications!

It is probably cheaper that way. I work in a group home and it is done all of the time, unless it is a capsule or something (please say it isn't) It should not affect the effectiveness.

With some pills, splitting or even crushing them to powder reduces their effectiveness. I was told by my daughter's psycologist to crush her meds and then put them in liquid for her to take cause she can't take them whole for some reason. I asked him about it and he told me with her meds, crushing won't affect it but with her other meds it will. Soooooooo...depends on what your taking.

There are a couple of reasons that I can think of why they give you 40mg instead of 20mg. Do you have to take 20mg twice a day. That might be one reason. Another is that the insurance you have only covers 40mg. Talk to your pharmacist and see what he says or your doctor might have to write a prescription out just for 20mg

I don't thing it will effect the effectiveness of the pill. My doctor prescribes my muscle relaxant in double dosage because it is only $5.00 more. By halfing the tablet, I'm getting more medication for less money. Maybe this is the reason? Check it out. I know it is a pain to cut them in half...I think you have a small pill there. Mine are easy to snap into...they are oblong tablets. Have a good one!

Hi Bob, I deliberately get double strength pills if I am able as usually they are the same price, so that way I get two months worth for the cost of one month, of course you have to do a bit of work but if you ask the pharmacy if they sell pill splitters I have also seen them in Walmart as well but always in the pharmacy dept, usually where they have things that help people with disabilities of one sort or another , as for losing strength perhaps it it isn't used in a day or so possibly but other than that I think they are the same. any how this helps and Merry Christmas to you and your Family Robin

My husband has to split his metformin (diabetic pill) but I've never had to do any for myself. My colestoral got a bit high too but I have a friend who took lipitor for a few years and now they say it caused problems. I ate garlic instead and now I'm good. You bring up a good point about splitting pills, however it seems to be OK with the diabetic pill. The effectiveness seems to be there.

I have never had this problem sweety but I would assume that you could insist on the 20 MG , no? I mean splitting tablets is never easy and if they are available in the smaller dose I would think they should be given automatically! Whether it affects the strength of the tablet - I have never heard of this but then I would think it would be difficult to break it exactly in half AGB - I would try insisting on the smaller dose tablet and see if you get anywhere - do let us know! xxxx

actually i don't really understand why they wouldn't prescribe you the 20mg ones.... i think splitting each is really troublesome. i don't thnk it lessens its effectiveness. I'm thinking these are the hard tablets that are like paracetamol, little round discs. if they are the capsule shaped ones (like a small torpedo) then it might be different, cos the 'powder' that splits up into each half might be different. and the dosage would then be different. I don't take lipitor. and I don't usually split my pills up. this is usually done for kids i think, when we want to half the adult dosage for them.