I am really frustrated about this. I am on 5 mg. of lipitor. Since the smallest dose they make is 10 mg. my doctor gave me some samples and had me cut them in half. When I went to get the script filled they infomed me that my insurance doesn't cover 10 mg. only 20 and up (makes no sense to me, but whatever). So, the doctor ordered 20 mg. with instuctions to cut them into 4ths. I have tried. After cutting one in half, when I try to cut it again, it just shatters and I am left with little pieces. It is either that, or I get a few chuncks, and the rest is unusable. Yesterday I probably took about 3 mg. and today it was probably about 8 because I can't even get them close to being equal. Any suggestions?

Nancy

I am really frustrated about this. I am on 5 mg. of lipitor. Since the smallest dose they make is 10 mg. my doctor gave me some samples and had me cut them in half. When I went to get the script filled they infomed me that my insurance doesn't cover 10 mg. only 20 and up (makes no sense to me, but whatever). So, the doctor ordered 20 mg. with instuctions to cut them into 4ths. I have tried. After cutting one in half, when I try to cut it again, it just shatters and I am left with little pieces. It is either that, or I get a few chuncks, and the rest is unusable. Yesterday I probably took about 3 mg. and today it was probably about 8 because I can't even get them close to being equal. Any suggestions?

Nancy

Oh brother, that sounds like it is not going to be an easy chore. Can't believe the insurance will only cover 20mgs., how stupid is that? Have U used one of those pill cutter things U get at a drugstore? Don't get too frustrated, try calling the dr. or the pharmacist and see if they can offer any suggestions.

Best of luck kiddo.... :)

I'm afraid I can't be of much help. But we have one person on this board who may be of help, and his name is Lenin. He is used to splitting pills, so perhaps he can be of some help to you.

There are tablet cutters . If your local pharmacy doesnt have one, try searching for EZY Dose Tablet Cutter in ***********

Hmmm,

Tens into halves is easy but 20's into quarters is tough.
Do it with a safety razor blade (one sharp side.) Start with a little sawing motion to get a little notch before beariing down.

If that mashes the pills, try the final break by notching the 10 mg. piece on BOTH sides and then, if your fingers are small enough, grab each end try to snap them. I have big hands and I wouldn't be able to do it, although I can snap the 20's into two tens with just my hands, no notching needed.

A pill cutter will tend to smash the small pieces because it exerts only pressure (no cutting action)...like trying to slice a ripe tomato with just pressure...SQUOOSH!

OK, I tried a 20 iinto 4 pieces...I was successful with notching and then pressing...it cut cleanly. (Now I must remember to take both pieces tonight :jester: )

The only problem I have with this is that not all meds are manufacutured to have the same strength in half let alone a 1/4. Some meds have maybe more than the dose you think... it could be 3/4. Ask the pharmacist he should know..Lisa

I wouldn't worry about even portions. I have read that you can have a 70/30 split and still get the same results. Just use all 4 pieces before you split another tab. If you have a big chunk one day, take a small chunk the next. Lipitor hangs around in your system for quite a while and the daily quantity is not that important--not like a heart medication etc.

Lenin's method sounds like it might work well. :)

You guys are wonderful! DH and I are on our way to Wal-Mart (almost out of toilet paper and chocolate milk and of course that could be a DISASTER with either since we have a six year old chocoholic and of course, everyone understands the need for the other!), so I am going to pick one of those pill cutters up. I really do appreciate your help!

Nancy

Please let us know how well that pill cutter works. But personally, I think that Lenin's idea was the best way to obtain a more even cut.

It worked very well for cutting them in half, then I used the blade to cut the half in half again and it worked WELL!

Thanks again all of you!!!!

Nancy

It worked very well for cutting them in half, then I used the blade to cut the half in half again and it worked WELL!

Thanks again all of you!!!!

Nancy

Well now we all know what to do if we have to split pills. Glad it all worked out, as I had NO clue what to do for 1/4's. I use a blade to cut a pill in half, but never did the 1/4 thing. As always, someone had a solution.... :)

Well now we all know what to do if we have to split pills. Glad it all worked out, as I had NO clue what to do for 1/4's. I use a blade to cut a pill in half, but never did the 1/4 thing. As always, someone had a solution.... :)

Needless to say, I'd sure hate to have to go through this ordeal day after day! I don't know why anyone should have to go through all this trouble. I mean, people should be able to receive their medication at the right dosage, without having to slice and dice pills. That's stupid!

I agree! I hate it. Even though I could split them they still have rough edges and are not pleasant to swallow. I am going to talk to my doctor about other alternatives when I go back, but I would really like to know why in the world an insurance company (HMO) would cover a medication only at specific milligrams. It just blows my mind. Even the tech at the member pharmacy could not tell me why they do this.

Nancy

Well folks, I totally agree with everything said, that is ridiculous to have to go thru all that trouble to take a med. Bad enough the prices we pay for meds, but now we have to section them off to our specific mgs.???? Oh pullllease, give us a break!!

Nancy, I hope U get some kind of answer, as that is just too much for anyone to have to go thru. Best wishes...... :wave:

The advantage of splitting pills is HUGE for certain drugs like statins which, for some reason, charge almost the same per pill regardless of size. In fact I;ve seen instances where the higher dosage is actually cheaper per tab than the lower???????
Cost savings can be immense in quartering pills priced like this.
Some other clases of drugs seem to charge per milligram so there's no savings, only annoyances.
I sit down and break 30 Lipitor 20's into 60 halves all at once and put them in a relabelled bottle and then don't have to think about it for 2 months. Since the pills are so pricey, I usually even lick off the table when I'm DONE. :D :D

Anecdote: A friend has a running prescription for 40 mg. simvastatin which he typically quarters. He started getting his meds from the VA and every 90 days they mail him 45 -80mg. tabs AND a pill splittter with each shipment. (Of course he needs the razor tequnique to quarter them into 20's ;) , but the moral is that even the U.S. GOVERNMENT demands pill splitting. :dizzy: :jester:

Anecdote: A friend has a running prescription for 40 mg. simvastatin which he typically quarters. He started getting his meds from the VA and every 90 days they mail him 45 -80mg. tabs AND a pill splittter with each shipment. (Of course he needs the razor tequnique to quarter them into 20's , but the moral is that even the U.S. GOVERNMENT demands pill splitting.

I bet this doesn't happen with the new Medicare prescription plan. :rolleyes:

The advantage of splitting pills is HUGE for certain drugs like statins which, for some reason, charge almost the same per pill regardless of size. In fact I;ve seen instances where the higher dosage is actually cheaper per tab than the lower???????


I understand what you're saying, because this is often the case, as ridiculous as it is. Apparently, there is absolutely no consideration for the people who must take these pills. And God help the poor senior citizen who has arthritic, shakey hands and poor eyesight! Imagine him fumbling around with a pill cutter, crawling around on his painful knees in an attempt to retrieve the broken piece that just flew off the table and rolled underneath the refrigerator? Who needs all this crap? People should get the dosage which is prescribed, and the price of the lower dosage should be reflected accordingly. If a prescription for 80mg pills costs $80, then a 40mg pill should be $40, a 20mg pill $20, a 10mg pill $10, and so on. Now THAT makes sense. Our current pricing system makes absolutely NO SENSE.

I understand what you're saying, because this is often the case, as ridiculous as it is. Apparently, there is absolutely no consideration for the people who must take these pills. And God help the poor senior citizen who has arthritic, shakey hands and poor eyesight! Imagine him fumbling around with a pill cutter, crawling around on his painful knees in an attempt to retrieve the broken piece that just flew off the table and rolled underneath the refrigerator? Who needs all this crap? People should get the dosage which is prescribed, and the price of the lower dosage should be reflected accordingly. If a prescription for 80mg pills costs $80, then a 40mg pill should be $40, a 20mg pill $20, a 10mg pill $10, and so on. Now THAT makes sense. Our current pricing system makes absolutely NO SENSE.

Have to agree with U Arizona. I know with hubby's PN going into his hands now, he sometimes has lil feeling, so I just couldn't even imagine him trying to go thru that, and personally, NOONE should have to go thru it. Man, these insurance companies and other medical bigwigs just don't want to give anyone a stinking break..... :mad:


BTW, has your cold front moved on in yet? WE had some nasty stuff today, but it sure is cool as all get out now. Have a good one, and CYL.. :wave:

Yes JJ, the weather here in New Jersey has definitely gotten cooler, and as a result, I am beginning to feel much better. Fall is wonderful! I wish we had October weather all year long! It would be paradise!

As far as those pills are concerned, if the drug companies are unable to adjust their prices accordingly, then I would suggest that they market only the lower dose pills, and then doctors can prescribe how many pills they want their patients to take. Even that would make more sense, and it would spare everyone a lot of aggravation. Wouldn't that be easier? No more pill splitting! But as things are, it's absolutely insane the way they drive people crazy!

Yes JJ, the weather here in New Jersey has definitely gotten cooler, and as a result, I am beginning to feel much better. Fall is wonderful! I wish we had October weather all year long! It would be paradise!

As far as those pills are concerned, if the drug companies are unable to adjust their prices accordingly, then I would suggest that they market only the lower dose pills, and then doctors can prescribe how many pills they want their patients to take. Even that would make more sense, and it would spare everyone a lot of aggravation. Wouldn't that be easier? No more pill splitting! But as things are, it's absolutely insane the way they drive people crazy!

Yup, I just looked out at our thermometer and it is 46, that is mighty cool for my bones. I like it about 60 and 75 during the day. Geez, am I fussy or what?

As far as the pills, I still can't get over that, it is definitely the most ridculous thing I've heard in awhile. Bad enough people have to take the pills and pay outrages prices for them,but having to go thru that day after day would send me right over the edge. People are busy enough without having to take time to split a pill into quarters, good grief, no wonder people are stressed out, some of these companies make U stressed. Oh well, who are we to tell the big wigs what to do, even if it makes common sense, cause sometimes I don't think they know what common sense is.

Enjoy the fall weather, pretty soon old man winter will be knocking on our doors....YUK!!! Take care, and TTYS.... :wave:

Y'all just make me feel soooooooo much better by reading your posts! I totally agree. These things make no sense!

I am in FL and cannot imagine 46 in September! That is more like Thanksgiving for us. It is basically summer here until Halloween. We are excited because tomorrow it is only going to be about 80 for a high!

Nancy

Y'all just make me feel soooooooo much better by reading your posts! I totally agree. These things make no sense!

I am in FL and cannot imagine 46 in September! That is more like Thanksgiving for us. It is basically summer here until Halloween. We are excited because tomorrow it is only going to be about 80 for a high!

Nancy

Hi Nancy!!! My oldest son lives in FL. as do alot of hubby's cousins, so he teases me in mid winter about sitting out on his balcony, while I am dressed in sweats.... :D It was a whole big 50 at 7 a.m...WOW!! Suppose to get warmer as the week goes on, but we know it won't last, so we are enjoying it while we can.

U have a great day, and TTYL.... :wave: :cool:

Hi Nancy!!! My oldest son lives in FL. as do alot of hubby's cousins, so he teases me in mid winter about sitting out on his balcony, while I am dressed in sweats.

Yeah, but when hurricane season comes around, you get the last laugh. :D

Yeah, but when hurricane season comes around, you get the last laugh. :D


Yeah, I guess we all have the good, the bad and the ugly.... :cool:


We are in for FROST tonight...BBRRRR I'm just hoping we don't get a very early and LONG cold winter, shoveling is not my idea of fun.

Have a great weekend, and TTYL.... :wave:

Well, the Farmer's Almanac says that we're going to have a cold, snowy winter...or so I heard. Well, winters are usually cold, but I think that I can do without too much snow. I'm getting tired of shoveling snow, and it ruins my evening walks.

Well, the Farmer's Almanac says that we're going to have a cold, snowy winter...or so I heard. Well, winters are usually cold, but I think that I can do without too much snow. I'm getting tired of shoveling snow, and it ruins my evening walks.

Yup, I heard the same thing, but am hoping they are wrong. Shoveling is not my most favorite thing to do either. I am just sooooo glad we have neighbors who have trucks with plows and do the driveway, man that is a total God send to say the least. I can handle the deck, stairs etc., but I have a very long and wide driveway. Pretty soon I will be yelling COME ON SPRING!!

Enjoy your weekend, and TTYL... :wave:

JJ,

I never thought I'd say this, but I am also hoping that we do not get a lot of snow this winter. Twenty five years ago, when I was 25, I was always hoping for a lot of snow, and was quite ready, willing and able to deal with it. But it seems that we never did get as much as I would have liked, and I was disappointed. However, now that I am 50, I no longer am enthusiastic about shoveling snow. But recently we seemed to be getting quite a lot of snow. Every year we seem to get at least one or two storms which dump a foot or two of snow, and I'm tired of dealing with it. I have a double driveway, and I live on a corner lot, and I really don't have very much in the way of help. So, it's just me! Sometimes my neighbor will help me, but mostly I'm on my own. Sometimes I wish that I just lived in an apartment.

JJ,

I never thought I'd say this, but I am also hoping that we do not get a lot of snow this winter. Twenty five years ago, when I was 25, I was always hoping for a lot of snow, and was quite ready, willing and able to deal with it. But it seems that we never did get as much as I would have liked, and I was disappointed. However, now that I am 50, I no longer am enthusiastic about shoveling snow. But recently we seemed to be getting quite a lot of snow. Every year we seem to get at least one or two storms which dump a foot or two of snow, and I'm tired of dealing with it. I have a double driveway, and I live on a corner lot, and I really don't have very much in the way of help. So, it's just me! Sometimes my neighbor will help me, but mostly I'm on my own. Sometimes I wish that I just lived in an apartment.

Well sweetheart, U are 14 yrs. my junior, so ya can imagine how I feel. LOL Hubby isn't suppose to shovel, so like I said, I am VERY grateful for those that come and do our driveway. As I said, I have a long driveway, plus I added on when my youngest was home so we could all have a parking space, so we can fit 3 cars across halfway down the driveway no problem, and then 2 across the next half, and I also am on a corner lot. Seems we no sooner get it plowed out and the city comes along and dumps on us, oh boy, that sends my BP up. I just take my time doing the walkway, stairs and deck, but some storms really drain ya, especially if it is mixed with rain. I am only 5', so trying to lift that shovel and toss the snow over the railing doesn't work, it blows right back in my face if it is windy, plus I really have to lift, as the railing is kinda high. Of course everything is high to us short folk... :D

My new idea of winter and snow is, get cold about Dec. 22nd, snow about 2" Xmas eve, and then Jan. 1st, go right back up to 70 degrees for the rest of the year. Geez, am I a dreamer or what???

Pray for a mild winter, and enjoy this great weather we have been having, as we know it won't be here much longer. I saw on GMA this morning where west of us is already getting nasty low temps. and snow, and is heading our way...OH JOY!!! Hubby is down in Hershey PA. till friday, so I am so hoping the weather holds out with lil or no rain. Last thing he needs is trying to walk that huge place in yucky weather.

Enjoy, and TTYL... :wave:

Simple:

Take 10mg every other day!(split the 20mg) Lipitor stays with you, and this is a known way to address your issue.

Best of luck

Bruce

PS: personally I take Policosanol, after taking Lipitor for a few weeks, I decided there is ANOTHER way.

Simple:

Take 10mg every other day!(split the 20mg) Lipitor stays with you, and this is a known way to address your issue.

Best of luck

Bruce

PS: personally I take Policosanol, after taking Lipitor for a few weeks, I decided there is ANOTHER way.


Bruce,

Just to double check - you're not taking Lipitor PLUS Policosanol, are you? Not sure if they are safe used together...

I take Policosanol also - it has reduced my total cholesterol about 15% so far - and that blood test was after being on it for only about 6 weeks - it takes full effect in about 8-12 weeks.

My next blood test is in a few weeks (keep having to change the date due to work) ... and I will post my results...

HubbleRules
:cool: