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Pill Cutters

Pill Cutters are also known as pill splitters, tablet dividers, pill breakers or tablet cutters. These devices allow patients to divide pills in half to provide two separate doses at half strength. For some drugs, like the statins, this process can save money on drug purchases since the statin drugs are less expensive in higher dose tablets. Instead of using a knife or razor blade, using a pill splitter is safer and more evenly distributes the dosage. Below is additional information on pill cutters, including their advantages, how to select the best pill-splitter, and related medical studies.

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Historically, insurance companies and pharmacies encourage pill splitting to reduce their cost. Insurance companies pay out less for drug reimbursements when less expensive higher-dose tablets are split to comply with the patient's actual prescription dose.1 (heisler p298) Pharmacies benefit from not having to stock as many low dose tablets. Patients benefit when insurance companies reduce their drug co-pay. One medical study found that there can be significant cost savings with tablet splitting.

One cost-saving strategy that may not have yet reached its potential is pill splitting. Many prescription drugs are available at increased dosages for the same or similar costs as smaller dosages. By prescribing half as many higher strength pills and splitting them to achieve the desired dosage, patients and physician systems can save as much as 50% on the cost of selected medications.2 (Staford p 706)

Not all drugs are candidates for splitting. Blood pressure medications and cholesterol drugs appear to be prime prospects for splitting. (Heisler p298) Many of the devices manufactured for splitting medications are easy to use, even by some elderly who may have some loss of dexterity. However, elderly individuals with cognitive impairment may not be good candidates for this procedure. (Dormuth) Instead, the congnitive impaired may benefit from an Electronic Pill Dispenser that offers an alarm when medication doses are due. One study drew the following conclusion about safe tablet splitting:

Health care providers should make every effort to use commercially available oral tablets, when available, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. However, tablet splitting may still be necessary if the drug is not available in the  patient-specific dose or if the patient's  inability to afford the medication as an outpatient outweighs the risks involved with tablet splitting.3 (Grissinger, p 69)

For patients in which their doctor recommends pill splitting the following recommendation is applicable:

On the basis of our results, which demonstrated that using accurate tablet cutter is superior to hand splitting, we recommend the use of an accurate splitting device when splitting cannot be avoided….4 (Habib, p 549)

Hinged Pill Cutter with Razor Blade

 

Advantages of Pill Splitting

 

  • Some patients are unable to swallow large tablets
  • Cost savings
  • Reduced space requirement in pharmacies
  • Makes new medications available to more people
  • Makes expensive medications accessible to more people
  • Allows "physicians to individualize a patient's dosage when the medication is not available in the desired dosage"5 (Stafford p707)

Cutter with Storage

 

Disadvantages of Pill Splitting

  • Not suitable for some patients with loss of dexterity
  • Not suitable for patients with cognitive loss
  • Patient compliance may be an issue for some patients
  • Additional risk of incorrect dosing

Splitter with Storage

 

Types of Pill Slicers

  • Hinged Razor Blade - razor blade cutting surface placed in a hinged device with a pill slot. Just clamp the device shut to cut the pill.
  • Push Stamp Splitter - place pill in slot, close lid, push down activator to cut tablet
  • Magnifying Pill Cutter - hinged razor blade with a transparent, magnified lid
  • Combo Types - split, crush, storage, and drink cup combos are small, portable devices with more utility
  • Scissor Type - scissors specifically designed to cut tablets
  • Multiple Shapes Pill Splitter - slots of different sizes that accommodate different sized pills that rotate or have template inserts to hold the tablet in place for the razor blade cutter
  • Multiple Pill Splitter - either slotted or inline with a hinged razor blade
  • Hinged Razor Blade with Safety Device - includes safety shield or a retracting blade

 

Medifacx ProRX

 

 

Selecting the Best Pill Cutter

Tablet Cutter Selection Continuum

 

In the infographic above, a product selection continuum displays different types of medicine cutters and where they generally lie in price and features. The products on the right typically have more features, are more durable, and are higher in price. The products to the left have fewer features and are often lower in price.

 

 

Top Ten Pill Cutters

Equadose

 

#1

 

Equadose - hinged cutter with two non-dulling, opposing blades

 

Apex Deluxe

 

#2

 

Apex Deluxe - features a durable, doubled-beveled German steel blade

 

Multiple

 

#3

 

Multiple Pill Breaker - multi splitter with medical grade stainless steel blade and safety guard

 

Apex Ultra

 

#4

 

Apex Ultra - hinged device that provides a safety device for the blade

 

Acu-Life

 

#5

 

Acu-Life - hinged cutter with a stainless steel blade and two storage compartments

Universal Tablet Splitter

 

#6

 

Universal - hinged cutter with 12 different size and shape trays and a shielded blade

 

EZY Dose

 

#7

 

EZY Dose - hinged cutter with a stainless steel blade

 

Swiss

 

#8

 

Swiss -hinged pill cutter with multiple slots and two opposing, non-dulling blades, comes in three sizes

 

Medifacx Prorxdisc

 

#9

 

Medifacx Prorxdisc - 12 different sized slots on a rotating disc with a self-retracting safety blade

 

Medifacx Prorxdisc

 

#10

 

Krocodile - combo device with stainless steel blade and crusher

 

 

Footnotes

 

 

 

Medical Studies

 

 

 

Buyers Guide

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