HY 03/06: Are You Getting the Right Dose?

Talk to your doctor and pharmacist to make sure

Tips on Splitting

Sometimes the drug dose you need is less than the smallest available pill. In that case, you need to split a pill in half, says registered pharmacist Charles Stivala of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. When splitting pills, follow these important guidelines:

Never split a pill without asking your doctor or pharmacist.
Use a pill splitter, a small device (example above) sold for about $5 in most drug stores.
Never split “enteric-coated” (a coating that lessens stomach irritation) or time-release pills.
If part of a pill gets crushed in splitting, discard it. If a half-pill breaks into a few pieces, it’s OK to take the pieces.

“Start low and go slow.” That’s the motto Laura Carothers, D.O., and her fellow physicians use when prescribing medicine to elderly patients. “Because of changes in metabolism and other factors, many of the standard doses are too strong for older adults,” says Carothers, a geriatrician with Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “So we usually start with the lowest possible dose and move up slowly as needed.”

Drug companies sometimes make dosage recommendations using a one-size-fits-all approach that may not take individual circumstances into account. A lower dose often is just as effective and may have fewer side effects and a lower price. “To make sure you’re getting the proper dose, the most important thing you can do is speak with your doctor and pharmacist,” Carothers says:

Bring a list of your prescription and nonprescription medications and herbal supplements to all your doctor appointments (including specialists) and ask questions. Other medicines may affect your starting dose of a new prescription.

When starting a new drug, ask your doctor or pharmacist if the dose you’re getting is the lowest you can take.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about even the slightest side effect. A lower dose may eliminate it.

If a new medicine has side effects or you read something about it that troubles you, don’t stop taking it. You may be putting your health at risk. Call your doctor right away to learn what to do. A lower dose may be all you need.