Studies | Health

No. 262
Monday, June 02, 2003
by Devon Herrick

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Comparing Prices
4. Therapeutic Drug Substitution
5. Pill Splitting
6. Generic Drug Substitutes
7. Switching to Over-the-Counter Drugs
8. Mail-Order Pharmacies
9. Global Options
10. Financial Assistance to Lower Drug Costs
11. Price Comparisons for Specific Drugs
12. Conclusion
13. Notes
14. Appendix
15. About the Author

Pill Splitting

Another method to lower drug costs is to purchase medications in doses double that of the prescribed amount and split them in half. Many tablets are scored across the center to facilitate splitting. This works because many medications sell for about the same price regardless of the dose of medicine in the pill. Take Viagra, for example. If ordered from Walgreens.com, 10 Viagra tablets cost $91.99 regardless of whether the dose is 25mg, 50mg or 100mg. Viagra is an odd-shaped tablet, difficult to split into two perfect halves.²⁹ To solve this problem, several firms now produce splitters designed just for the diamond-shaped Viagra tablet. Patients who buy double-dose tablets and split them in half literally save 50 percent.³⁰

An important consideration is whether or not a patient is able to accurately split a tablet in half. Elderly patients may find pill splitting difficult; however, some pharmacists will split or crush and encapsulate pills. Some medications are not good candidates for splitting, including extended release tablets, capsules and medications for many serious disorders.

Researchers at Stanford University found substantial consumer savings from splitting 11 of 265 commonly prescribed medications. These medications were not prepackaged by dose in, for instance, blister packs, were available in tablet form and came in several dosages.³¹ [See Table I.] Potential savings range from 23 percent to 50 percent for these drugs.³²

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