Sometimes - but only for tablets the FDA has approved for splitting, and only with your prescriber or pharmacist's sign-off.
Approved tablets are scored with a line marking exactly where to split, and the label says so. Split an unapproved tablet and the halves can carry uneven drug amounts; split an extended-release tablet and you can get the whole dose at once.
What to do
Common questions
Can I split my pills to save money?
Sometimes - and only with your prescriber or pharmacist's sign-off. Splitting is safe only for tablets the FDA has approved to be split, and that approval is printed in the label's How Supplied section; approved tablets carry a scored line marking exactly where to split. Split an unapproved tablet and the halves can carry uneven amounts of the drug. Never split extended-release or time-release tablets (splitting destroys the release mechanism and can dump the whole dose at once), coated tablets, capsules, or combination pills. When it is appropriate, the math works because a double-strength tablet often costs nearly the same as the standard one, so splitting halves the per-dose cost. Use a pill splitter from the pharmacy rather than a knife for even halves. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you figure out whether your specific medication is a splitting candidate before you ask your prescriber.